Cleveland State University students are partnering with Marcus Thomas LLC to host PRSA Student Day 2025, a professional networking and career development event taking place Friday, Oct. 24, at 4781 Richmond Road from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The event will bring together professionals and public relations students from several colleges in the Greater Cleveland region for a day of industry insight, speed networking and speaker-led sessions.

This year’s apple theme celebrates the season of fall while symbolizing growth and new opportunities for students entering the communication field.

The program is organized by Dr. Beth Thomas’ COM 447 class at Cleveland State, where students are divided into agency-style teams to execute every aspect of the event. Teams include Account Executives, PR/Media, and Creative — each responsible for specific roles, from outreach and publicity, to branding and event logistics.

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Chelsea Penfield, a professional at Marcus Thomas and one of this year’s speakers, said events like PRSA Student Day are vital for students preparing to enter the PR industry.

“Especially in industries like PR, your network is your net worth,” Penfield said. “By attending events like PRSA Student Day, you’re putting yourself in a position to connect with future employers in an impactful way. My best advice is to make yourself memorable. Ask the questions, make the introductions and maybe your next connection will lead to opened doors in the future.”

The schedule includes a variety of speaker sessions throughout the morning, followed by lunch and a speed networking mixer in the afternoon. Students can expect to rotate among rooms of professionals discussing topics such as media relations, internal communication, corporate PR and nonprofit strategies.

Each speaker will present multiple sessions, allowing students to attend talks that match their interests. Attendance is expected to reach between 60 and 80 students, consistent with past years’ turnout.

Coffee will be served as registration opens at 8:30 a.m., with sessions running from 9:10 to 11:40 a.m. The brief intermission for lunch starts around noon and the networking mixer will run from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Attendees are encouraged to dress in professional business attire, such as blazers, slacks, dresses or polished separates. Students should plan to bring resumes, their LinkedIn profile information and a positive attitude to make a lasting impression during networking sessions.

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PRSA Student Day has become a signature fall event for communication students in Northeast Ohio, offering a space to build professional connections and gain insight from local experts.

Those interested in attending can find updates and registration information here: PRSA Cleveland Student Day 2025.