Ever since Amanda Brunak ’20 set foot on the USC campus, she’s made the most out of her time here. A public relations major, Brunak became the director of PR for The Buzz, a student-run TV program, as a sophomore. In Spring 2019, she participated in the Maymester program, visiting top media companies in New York City.
“It was really extraordinary to engage with industry professionals and experience all of the opportunities at the world’s most important media, communication, and technology companies,” Brunak said. “I was able to immerse myself in the evolving media landscape and really understand firsthand how it is adapting and changing to meet our new digital consuming needs.”
Heading into her Spring semester this year, Brunak was recognized by the Center for Public Relations (CPR) as the inaugural recipient of the Noemi Pollack Scholarship.
“Receiving this scholarship award makes my whole semester,” Brunak said. “It gives me added motivation in my senior year and bolsters my confidence heading into graduation, knowing I already have iconic industry professionals supporting my journey.”
The Pollack PR Marketing Group announced the creation of the scholarship late last year. The merit-based tuition scholarship — named in honor of Noemi Pollack, the CEO and founder of PPMG and the agency’s 35th anniversary this year — will be awarded on an academic year basis to an undergraduate majoring or minoring in PR who will actively participate in the important research and operations of CPR.
“It is evident that Amanda has learned that public relations and marketing professionals have the ultimate ability to bring change to a business,” Pollack said. “When she graduates, I know that she will apply her creativity and strategic thinking in helping to solve the pressing communications challenges of the day.”
“The Pollack family has been involved with the university for decades, and we are honored to have them as the inaugural scholarship patron of the Center for PR,” said Fred Cook, director of the center.
Brunak is currently a public relations intern at Amazon Studios. In the Spring, she will work at NBC Entertainment as a corporate communications intern. After graduation, Brunak plans to pursue a career in public relations by working at an agency or entertainment company.