A public relations firm at The University of Alabama is giving students real-world experience in running communication campaigns.

The Capstone Agency has amassed over 30 awards for their work and is looking to continue their progress and expansion this year.

Capstone Agency Advisor Teri Henley started working with the firm in 2008. Over the years, Henley said she has been impressed with how the student leaders of the Capstone Agency have stepped up to run the organization as a real agency helping real clients.

“The greatest reward is seeing the students grow in the knowledge and abilities as they interact with real clients with real budgets, real issues and real constraints,” she said.

Firm director Jessica Colburn said the Capstone Agency has worked hard to build an impressive client list for the purpose of highlighting to future clients its strengths and abilities.

“It truly highlights our abilities as an agency when we can now say we not only have over 32 local, regional and national awards for our work but are now considered ‘leading experts’ in our field,” Colburn said.

Previously, the Capstone Agency focused on pro bono work for nonprofits and on-campus initiatives such as Alabama Reads and Student Health Center initiatives.

“This year we are looking to strategically diversify our clientele and work with small, off-campus businesses in need of communication services for pay,” Colburn said.

The Capstone Agency not only plans to expand its clientele base, but to educate both students and faculty on how to engage students through strategic public relations campaigns at two national conferences this semester.

“The National Outreach Scholarship Conference will be on Oct. 3 in Bryant Conference Center, and the Public Relations Student Society of America’s National Conference will be Oct. 12 in San Francisco,” Colburn said.

Colburn said she is excited the agency will also be working hard on making one of their current clients, LessThanUThink, a nationwide brand by implementing their campaign in Orange County, Calif.

Delynne Wilcox, the assistant director for health planning and prevention, is a client from the Student Health Center.

Wilcox said she has been very impressed with the high standard of professionalism the Capstone Agency exemplifies, as well as the quality of their work and creativity.

“Working with the Capstone Agency has added tremendous value to the work of our department and afforded me the opportunity to engage students in the health of our campus community in a more innovative capacity,” she said.

To learn more about how to become involved with Capstone Agency, visit the “contact us” tab at capstoneagency.org.