Public Relations Students Earn Prestigious Certificates and Recognition

JACKSON, Miss. (May 19, 2026) – Two Belhaven University students earned the prestigious Certificate in Principles of Public Relations, while another was recognized as one of the state’s top PR students by Mississippi’s largest public relations organization.

Graduating seniors Makaiyla Wilson and Adam Wolfe earned the Certificate in Principles of Public Relations, a nationally recognized credential for those entering the PR field. The Universal Accreditation Board administers the certificate and oversees the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) program, the nation’s premier certification for public relations practitioners.

To earn the certificate, students must complete a specific course of study and pass a rigorous three-hour examination. Since 2019, nine Belhaven students, including Wilson and Wolfe, have earned the credential.

“We are so proud of Makaiyla and Adam, who worked hard to prepare for this exam,” said Bill Moak, APR, Fellow PRSA, chair of Belhaven’s communication program. “It’s not easy, and not all candidates pass on their first attempt. Therefore, it’s quite an accomplishment.”

Moak also noted that graduating PR student Isabella Hopkins was among nine students nominated for the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM) Student of the Year award, which recognizes the top PR students in the state. Hopkins and her peers competed at a recent statewide conference at Mississippi State University (MSU), where MSU student Caroline Flint took top honors. Faculty members nominate Student of the Year candidates. Moak added that Hopkins also earned her Certificate in Principles of Public Relations last year.

All three students are members of PRAM’s Central chapter, the largest public relations group in the state. “Our students are going out well-prepared to enter the field, and they are going to be great representatives of Belhaven as they start their careers,” Moak said.