By Jeff Murphy,
April 20, 2018
WARRENSBURG, Mo - The University of Central Missouri public relations program inducted
three deserving PR professionals into its UCM PR Hall of Fame at the UCM PR program’s
second annual PRConnect alumni event Thursday, April 12 in Lee’s Summit.
Schnieders
Kali (Ball) Schnieders and Larry Schnieders (1973), and Michael “Shawn” Arni (1986),
were inducted into the UCM PR Hall of Fame as the result of their tireless work, commitment,
and dedication to helping the UCM PR program and its students.
The Schnieders joined forces with the UCM academic PR program and its student-run
agency – Innovative PR – to benefit the DeLa Salle Education Center through the production
of the “Together We’re Stronger” documentary film. Since that time, the Schnieders
have established the UCM PR program’s largest academic scholarship.
Arni
Arni continues to be actively engaged in the UCM PR program and has been for more
than 20 years. As the Director of Communications and Marketing at Children’s Mercy
in Kansas City, he has supervised several UCM PR student interns, hosted student visits
to Children’s Mercy Hospital, participated in the annual Public Relations Student
Society of America (PRSSA) PR Pro Day, and has long-served as a PR program professional
advisory board member.
“We are extremely honored to induct Kali, Larry and Shawn into the UCM PR Program
Hall of Fame,” said Tricia Hansen-Horn, professor and UCM PR program coordinator.
“These three individuals are committed to providing real-world, engaged learning opportunities
for public relations students. We can’t express our appreciation enough for what they’ve
meant to our faculty, to our students and to our program. The UCM PR Hall of Fame
was established for that purpose – to honor those who continue to give back to our
PR students in meaningful ways.”
Paula Derks, Aircraft Electronics Association president, was the inaugural UCM PR
Hall of Fame inductee. Connect alumni event in 2016, following many years of serving
as professional advisory board member, client to the PR capstone campaigns course,
and intern employer. Derks is a 2004 UCM Distinguished Alumna.
The UCM public relations program is nationally certified by Public Relations Society
of America. The program is housed in UCM’s Harmon College of Business and Professional
Studies. It is only one of two nationally certified programs housed in a school of
business – uniquely positioning it as a business discipline.
