Applying for January 2008?

If you are interested in applying to start the Centennial postgrad program this January, here are some answers to questions you might have:

Are there still seats available?
Yes there are. We are currently holding sessions with those who have applied, providing them with the opportunity to find out more about the program and complete the supplementary writing and editing requirements for admission. We’ll continue doing that until the seats are filled. Anyone interested in applying through OCAS at this point can do so with a reasonable shot at a seat. However, it’s important to do that as quickly as possible.

How many students will be in the January class?
About 30.

What happens after I’ve applied through OCAS?
You will receive a letter from Centennial inviting you to come in for one of the Applicant Supplementary sessions. At the moment, we’re typically running those on Thursday afternoons.

Do the January students attend class through the summer?
Yes they do. The first semester runs from January to April, while the second semester is May to mid-July. The internship is mid-July to mid-September.

Graduates and elections

A number of our grads were busy in the recent Ontario election helping candidates seek election or re-election. Maybelline Palon and Sarah Sylvester are two who come to mind.

Another grad was actually a candidate, running for the New Democratic Party in Chatham-Kent-Essex. Murray Gaudreau has been a communications officer with the Ministry of Education since completing the program in 2002. Although he wasn’t elected, it’s great to see former students getting involved in the political process.

We value guest speakers

Bringing in practitioners and experts adds relevance and credibility to the student’s experience. It’s a way in which the program continues to foster its links with the profession. Guest speakers who have shared their knowledge and experience with us in the past year have included:

Stephen Candib, Gottschalk & Ash International
Edith Galinaitis, Manager, Employee Communications, RBC
Cameron Gordon, Account Coordinator, High Road Communications
Rob Ireland, President, Mansfield Communications
Paul Keable, Senior Account Supervisor, MS&L
Mark LaVigne, President, Hunter LaVigne Communications
Chobi Liang, publicist, Comedy Netowrk; now with TSN
Pat Macnamara, President, Apex Public Relations
Nekeisha Mohammed, Communications Officer, Sunnybrook Foundation
Donna Papacosta, President of Trafcom Communications, host of Trafcom News Podcast
Tracy Pederson, Co-ordinator, Events, Retail Council of Canada
Bob Reid, Chief Media Strategist, Veritas Communications
Julie Rusciolelli, President of Maverick PR
Amy Schindler, Co-ordinator, Marketing & Special Events, Frontier College
Sabita Singh, Director, Strategic Communications, iStudio
Nadia Vercillo,Manager of Communications & Public Relations, Ontario Veterinary Medic al Association
Jill Yetman, Consultant, Porter Novelli; now with Environics
Paull Young, Australian PR blogger, now with Converseon in New York
Olivia Yu, Consultant, Environics

Grad profile: Shilpa Kotecha

The October 10 issue of Toronto’s Metro newspaper carried an engaging story about Shilpa Kotecha who graduated from the Corporate Communications & PR program in 2001. In addition to managing media relations for KPMG, Shilpa also co-chairs the professional development and networking committee for the Toronto chapter of the Canadian Public Relations Society with former classmate Christine Edwardson of the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion.

Tara Wood: one of the top 30 under 30

Tara Wood (Class of ’05), Manager of Public Relations for World Wildlife Fund Canada, has been tapped as one of the Ones To Watch: Marketing’s Next Generation by Marketing magazine.

Her connection with WWF Canada began with the Client Project course in her second semester at Centennial. The project? Helping the WWF promote its annual CN Tower Climb. That was followed by a two-month internship. Tara worked briefly with the government before being enticed back to the World Wildlife Fund two years ago.

Some quotes from Marketing:

“I wasn’t entirely convinced of what PR could bring to our organization until I saw Tara in action,” says Pamela Davis-Ross, VP of marketing and donor relations at WWF-Canada. “And then I was convinced.”

For WWF’s “black cloud” event last November, Wood had 3,000 black balloons–representing carbon dioxide–placed at Metro Hall in Toronto. She used Delicious (a social bookmarking site), YouTube and Flickr to publicize the event, which received considerable local TV, newspaper and blogger coverage.

She also promoted WWF’s “Hotter than I should be” T-shirts, which the editors of Canadian Living wore in a photo in the magazine. The shirt was named one of eTalk Daily’s Top 10 holiday gifts.

While it’s difficult to link earned media to financial results, says Davis-Ross, WWF’s overall awareness has increased to 96% from 77% since Wood joined the organization.

Tara will be speaking to Centennial students on October 12.