Inez Y. Kaiser GKC-PRSA 2022 Memorial Fund Scholars Announced
Fund Awards Three $2,500 Scholarships to Student Scholars
(Kansas City, MO – April 11, 2022) -- As the celebration of PRSA’s 75th anniversary year continues, the Greater Kansas City Public Relations Society of America Chapter (GKC-PRSA) has announced the 2022 Class of Scholars for the Inez Y. Kaiser GKC-PRSA Memorial Scholarship Fund: Sirah Diallo, a junior honors student at University of Texas at Austin, Ladazhia Taylor a junior honors student at the University of Kansas, and MyAun Boyd, a junior honors student at Evangel University. Three scholars were named in 2021.
“I’m thrilled to welcome the 2022 Class of Scholars. My mother accomplished so much -- she was a great teacher, a great cook, a great businesswoman and a consummate public relations professional. I know she would be pleased to see this scholarship benefit this next class of students. Now, we all look forward to watching them develop their bright futures,” said Rick Kaiser, Vice Chair of the Inez Y. Kaiser GKC-PRSA Memorial Fund Advisory Committee.
Three students were awarded scholarships last fall. 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. She was also the first Black woman to join the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) nationally.
Applications for the next class of scholars will be accepted beginning January 1, 2023. 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 is a demonstration of Inez Kaiser’s commitment to leadership, public relations excellence, and community volunteerism. For more information, visit the general scholarship information page here.
In commenting on the awarding of this Class of Scholarships, Bridget Koan, GKC-PRSA 2022 president said, “Moving the field of public relations forward means supporting and mentoring tomorrow’s PR leaders. We are proud to show our support to these amazing students by providing financial support for their education. I look forward to meeting them, hearing about their goals, and welcoming them to PRSA, a professional development organization that gave so much to me.”
Inez Y. Kaiser GKC-PRSA 2022 Class of Scholars
Sirah Diallo, a University of Texas at Austin junior honors student majoring in public relations. Diallo also is outreach director for the Diversity in Advertising and Public Relations, an on-campus student organization dedicated to celebrating and increasing diversity within the profession through networking access and resources. Diallo is also a marketing intern at Blackstone LaunchPad, Diallo worked as a Content Marketing intern for Oracle NetSuite last summer. She will be an Assistant Product Marketing Manager (APMM) intern at Google this summer. She is also an eCommerce Retailer Seller. She is the recipient of the national scholarship in celebration of PRSA’s 75th anniversary year. In accepting her scholarship, Diallo said, "The Inez Y. Kaiser scholarship is a much-needed and appreciated call for change and inclusivity in the public relations field. For me, this scholarship is an opportunity to continue my education, explore my career-related interests, and continue to push for and create diverse spaces in my community and the industry as a whole. To be recognized as a passionate leader and community member is an honor, and I can't wait to see how I can continue to impact the world around me."
Ladazhia Taylor is a junior honors student majoring in Strategic Communications at the University of Kansas. She is president of the Journalism Student Ambassador program and served as a 2021 Chair Member of the Diversity and Equity Inclusion Funds committee. She has mentored and tutored students at KU Leadup and is currently interning at Education Dynamics, a marketing firm for higher education. Ladazhia also worked at AMC Theater as a supervisor. In accepting the scholarship Taylor said, “Receiving the Inez Y. Kaiser GKC PRSA scholarship was both an honor and an eye-opener for me. It allowed me to witness my own potential come to fruition and gives me the ability to connect and network with knowledgeable and amazing individuals. This opportunity has inspired and motivated me to keep dreaming and believing in myself. While I struggled with imposter syndrome, the scholarship that Dr. Inez Kaiser has made possible reinstated the idea that I can achieve whatever I put my mind to. With the help of the PRSA family, I hope to be a beacon of hope and a familiar face for other Black girls!”
MyAun Boyd is a junior honors student majoring in Strategic Communications at Evangel University. She is the features editor at The Lance college newspaper and volunteers with Pursuit, a traveling ministry that ministers to churches throughout the U.S. as well as local organizations and churches. She has interned at Helzberg Diamonds and Hello Big Idea, a marketing firm. In accepting the scholarship, Boyd said, "To receive the Inez Y. Kaiser GKC PRSA scholarship is such a blessing and privilege. This scholarship will help me to continue to prepare for my career at Evangel University and help me achieve my ultimate career goal. Ever since I was young, I have always desired to have a career that would allow me to use the beauty of storytelling to impact my community. Ms. Inez Y. Kaiser was a true trailblazer for African American women in the public relations field, and I am honored to be recognized by her firm and join in her legacy.”
Advisory committee members included co-founder and chair Lea-Ann Germinder, APR, Fellow, PRSA, Bridget Koan, chapter president, Alex Miller, chapter past-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; Anita Parran, vice president of diversity & inclusion; Shayla Wilkinson, chapter vice president – business opportunities, Sheba Clarke, chapter vice president, social media, member Carrie Stapleton. Chapter member and student relations committee chair Grayson Gilbert served as a judge. 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.
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.
