FPRA Pensacola places a high priority on providing opportunities for public relations students including regular chapter meetings, networking, and student-only programming.
If you are currently a full-time student enrolled at an accredited college or university and would like to join the Pensacola Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association, please fill out an application on the state's website.
Benefits
FPRA Scholarship Program
FPRA offers scholarship opportunities to eligible student members on the state and local level. Three scholarships are awarded annually by the Pensacola Chapter, and additional scholarship opportunities are provided by the FPRA Foundation. To apply for scholarships from the Pensacola Chapter, look for a call for entries during the Spring academic semester. Students interested in applying for the state-level scholarship can download the FPRA scholarship eligibility requirements and application.
Campus Activities
The Pensacola Chapter conducts student happenings on the University of West Florida Pensacola campus and Emerald Coast location. For more information on FPRA-related campus activities, contact Laura Kirby at lkirby@uwf.edu or Madison DeVito at mbd28@students.uwf.edu.
Internship Opportunities
FPRA encourages students in the communications field to participate in internship programs to gain valuable hands-on experience. For a list of available internships, please contact Laura Kirby at lkirby@uwf.edu.
Rachel Smith
Immediate Past President
Rachel Smith serves as the Outreach and Events Specialist for Gulf Coast Kid’s House, where she leads community outreach, marketing, and fundraising events that support the organization’s mission to protect and advocate for vulnerable children in Escambia County. A Pensacola native, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Resort, and Recreation Management from the University of West Florida.
Passionate about community service, Rachel has volunteered with numerous local nonprofits and serves on the FPRA board. She was recognized as a 2025 Inweekly Rising Star and is a member of the 2026 Leadership Pensacola class.
Rachel is also dedicated to health and wellness. She has worked as a certified fitness instructor in multiple modalities for more than seven years, earning Inweekly’s Runner-Up for Best Fitness Instructor five times.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, brunching at local restaurants, and watching movies at home with her husband.