Inez Y. Kaiser GKC-PRSA 2021 Memorial Fund Scholars Announced
Fund Awards Three $2,500 Scholarships To Student Scholars
As the celebration of its 60th anniversary year concludes, the Greater Kansas City Public Relations Society of America Chapter (GKC-PRSA) has announced the inaugural class of scholars for the Inez Y. Kaiser GKC-PRSA Memorial Scholarship Fund at its annual Prism Awards held October 21 as a virtual event. Based on the high caliber of applications, the board voted unanimously to award three versus the original two scholarships. The initial $25,000 scholarship fund was established by the GKC-PRSA chapter to award annual scholarships in memory of Inez Y. Kaiser, a Kansas City pioneer, entrepreneur, and public relations business owner who was the first Black woman in the nation to own a public relations firm with national clients. Her cookbook, “Soul Food Cookery,” that she promoted nationwide is now in the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of African American Art & Culture.
“What my mother accomplished is still amazing to me. She was a great teacher, a great cook, a great businesswoman, but to me at the time, she was mama. And you didn’t mess with her! I know she would be thrilled to see this scholarship benefit these students, with all of us working together to not just celebrate her, as she was in fact modest about her accomplishments, but helping others in the profession she loved,” said Rick Kaiser, Vice Chair of the Inez Y. Kaiser GKC-PRSA Memorial Fund Advisory Committee.
The scholars named at the GKC-PRSA Prism awards are:
Michael Lewis, a University of Central Missouri senior honors student majoring in both public relations and political science. Lewis is also Vice President of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), has many volunteer activities including Feeding America activity during his Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity fundraiser events. He currently handles three internships including the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and Amazon.
“Getting this scholarship was not only a financial goal for me, but a personal one as well. Dr. Inez Kaiser embodies so much of who and what it is I want to be in my career. As I make my way through this industry and meet professionals, I notice very few Black individuals, especially males, and hearing about her success motivates me. I am here today because of the people who either paved the way for me or helped along the way. I hope to be in the position one day where I can start a foundation of my own to help other Black young professionals who took that second chance at a career and never looked back. Thank you for honoring me with this scholarship.”
Naomi Madu, a University of Kansas senior honors student majoring in Strategic Communications, minor in German studies. Madu is founder and former president of the African and Caribbean Student Association and among her many volunteer initiatives works with a Nigerian-based group non-profit group, Girl Lead Hub which connects young women and promotes development through networking, mentoring and scholarship programs. She has won merit and creative awards for her volunteer and creative work.
“The best piece of advice I’ve ever received came from my professor: ‘What you do every day becomes your life.’ I’m very passionate about equity for all but as a Black student in a predominantly White field, it’s not immediately clear how you can make a difference in your everyday life. Figures like Inez Y. Kaiser teach us that the way you live your life and the values you carry with you add up and culminate in achievements that have an impact. It is an honor to be an inaugural recipient of the Inez Y. Kaiser GKC-PRSA Memorial scholarship because it affirms my commitment to supporting my community through advocacy and representation and breaking down barriers for others to follow.”
Kori McIntosh-Brown, a Pittsburg State University senior honors student majoring in Strategic Communication. McIntosh-Brown is Vice President of the Lamda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society and received several other scholastic honors. She has been involved in supplier diversity programs and strategic communications for the Kansas Small Business Development Center. Her volunteer work includes Juneteenth activities.
Being a student at Pittsburg State University, where Inez Y. Kaiser also attended school makes this scholarship very special to me. Although I never met her, I was inspired by her story and her impact on the PR industry. Soon, I'll be heading into the industry, and I am thankful that this opportunity will be the beginning of my story, that I hope will inspire and impact others too. I look forward to the success that will come next with the help of this generous financial gift and thank you all for the support!
In speaking about the selection process, Dr. Dean Kruckeberg, APR, Fellow PRSA, lead academic liaison for the advisory committee that judged the applications said, “The Advisory Committee of the Inez Y. Kaiser Memorial Scholarship Fund has selected three highly worthy recipients of the First Annual Scholarship Awards. Each of these students has the potential—indeed the likelihood—to become a successful public relations practitioner whose career will emulate the legacy of Dr. Kaiser. I am proud to be part of the Advisory Committee that is comprised of a diverse group of highly knowledgeable professionals who established and then applied rigorous criteria to conscientiously evaluate each applicant in this year’s pool of candidates.”
Applications for the next class of scholars will be accepted starting December 1, 2021. Inez Y. Kaiser GKC-PRSA Memorial Fund Co-Founder and Advisory Committee Chair Lea-Ann Germinder, APR Fellow PRSA outlined the criteria for the award was Inez Kaiser’s commitment to leadership, public relations excellence, and community volunteerism. She commented,
“It is an honor and a privilege to represent the GKC-PRSA chapter and work beside the Kaiser family to tell the Inez Kaiser story this year. There are stories within that story to be told. But tonight, the biggest story is about these bright first scholars and the mark they will make as future Inez Kaisers. Congratulations to all of you and much gratitude to the Kaiser family for sharing your mother ‘s legacy of service with us. It’s a reminder that there is so much good to still be done in this world,” said Germinder.
Advisory committee members included co-founder and chair Lea-Ann Germinder, APR, Fellow, PRSA, Alex Miller, chapter president and co-founder; Rick Kaiser, vice chair and Inez Kaiser’s son, Richlynn Kaiser Bailey, Inez Kaiser’s granddaughter; Dean Kruckeberg, Ph.D., APR, Fellow, PRSA; Katherine Frohoff, APR, chapter vice president of student relations; Carrie Stapleton, chapter vice president of diversity & inclusion; Shayla Wilkinson, chapter vice president – business opportunities, chapter members Anita Parran, and Sheba Clarke. The primary duty of the committee is to administer the scholarship; however, the committee also helps raise funds and continues to tell the Inez Y. Kaiser story in coordination with the chapter.
The chapter established the initial endowment at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
for undergraduate college scholarships in February 2021 during Black History Month. This year the endowment increased by $10,000. The chapter hopes to continue to increase the endowment to help future Inez Kaisers. A donation link is available here.
“This is an important initiative for the chapter. To be able to celebrate the powerful legacy of a great pioneer like Dr. Kaiser and at the same time help enable future Inez Kaisers like Michael Lewis, Naomi Madu and Kori McIntosh-Brown pursue their dreams is something I have been very proud for our board and partners to achieve in our 60th anniversary year,” said Alex Miller, GKC-PRSA chapter president.
Additional Background on Inez Kaiser
Inez Kaiser was born in Kansas City, Kansas in 1918. She graduated from Pittsburgh State University, was an educator first but became a businesswoman and public relations professional of many other firsts. In 1957, she founded Inez Kaiser & Associates. In 1963, she was the first Black woman to establish a national public relations firm with national clients in a Commerce bank building in downtown Kansas City – unheard of at the time. She was the first Black woman to join the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. She soon had an impressive roster of local (e.g., Commerce Bank, J.E Dunn Construction, Hallmark) and national (e.g., Lever Brothers, Burger King, Sears) clients.
It was her passionate commitment to volunteerism that defined her. She established the Jackson County Chapter of the LINKS of which Vice President Kamala Harris is a prominent national member. Kaiser was the first Black woman to join the Public Relations Society of America in 1966. She won many local and national awards. She was an advisor to Presidents Nixon and Ford to help Black businesswomen but crossed the political aisle when as her son says, “she voted for Obama.”
Additional Background on GKC-PRSA
The Greater Kansas City PRSA chapter is a community of public relations and communications professionals across the Kansas City area, from recent college graduates to leaders of some of the largest firms, agencies, and non-profits. Our members represent nearly every practice area and professional and academic setting within the public relations field. In addition, we support students from across the Midwest who are members of their campus Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapters. We hold virtual and in-person events to enhance our professional growth. Our chapter also boasts signature events, such as our annual PRISM Awards gala honoring the year’s best in communications excellence. At GKC-PRSA our mission is to be the professional resource and advocate for Kansas City’s Communications community.
