URI students win humanitarian PSA contest

A WINNING PSA design from a group of University of Rhode Island business students in the 7th annual public service announcement contest - PSAid. / COURTESY PSAID.ORG
A WINNING PSA design from a group of University of Rhode Island business students in the 7th annual public service announcement contest - PSAid. / COURTESY PSAID.ORG

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Four students from the University of Rhode Island – Ryan Pincince, Richard Kalhofer, Jill-Ann Hewins and Kelsey Finegan – won recognition for their entries in the 7th annual public service announcement contest, PSAid.

The students chose to compete as part of an option assignment for URI assistant business professor Koray Ozpolat’s operations and supply chain management course.

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The students were charged with designing a PSA “encouraging smart compassion” that informed the public that monetary donations to proven relief organizations are a smart way to help those affected by overseas emergencies, said a URI announcement.

The national contest is sponsored by the Center for International Disaster Information and the U.S. Agency for International Development, and entries were judged for overall impact, originality, memorable content, delivery and for having a clear message.

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The four URI students won second and third place in the print competition for two different PSAs.

“We have brilliant students at URI,” said Ozpolat in a release announcing the award. “They worked hard and smart collecting logistical data and merging that logistical data with art and design, all relative to what they are learning.”

The second-prize winning entry showed the shrinking value of a dollar bill with an item donation, such as bottled water, compared to a credit or cash donation, which showed a dollar bill intact.
The third-place winner showed a bottle of water with a price tag of $71.27, the real cost of a case of water bottles sent to a disaster site after handling, shipping and storage.
“This year’s contestants met the challenge with compelling and clever entries,” said CIDI Director Juanita M. Riling in prepared remarks. “Explaining to the public what smart compassion involves can be a challenge, but the winners clearly articulate the difference between good intentions and maximizing public generosity to help people affected by disasters.”

Winning entries can be viewed at www.psaid.org.

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