CSULB Bateman team leaves for Atlanta

Once again, the Cal State Long Beach Bateman Team has brought national recognition to the campus.

The public relations team was named with the University of Florida as one of the two best teams in the most competitive year in Bateman history. In total, 68 schools across the country submitted entries.

Bateman is a national competition in which CSULB Public Relations Students Association compete annually.

Its winners are honored and are highly recognized for their ability to successfully apply the public relations and marketing tactics taught in the classroom.

This year's competition was sponsored by Coca-Cola.

The campaign goals were to establish preference for CocaCola brands on campuses across the nation and maximize purchase occasions of Coca-Cola and other Coke brands.

The team chose the theme of diversity by comparing the cultural diversity on campus with the diversity of Coca-Cola products.

Carrie Larson, Michelle King, Tracy Bossenbroek, Stephanie Taylor and Atoosa Karimi comprised this year's team.

Emma Daugherty, head of the public relations option in the journalism department, served as the team's advisor.

"If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't hesitate," Michelle King, a public relations major, said. "I've been wanting to do Bateman for a long time."

"It has been exciting to be a part of the team," Stephanie Taylor, another team member said. "It certainly wasn't easy, but it was worth it."

Now that CSULB has been ranked among the top two in the nation, the PRSSA chapter will receive $500 and the team will advance to Atlanta to present its campaign to Coca-Cola executives.

The judges will then determine who will bring home an additional $1000 and the highly esteemed honor of winning first place in the 1996 Bateman Case Study Competition.

For two years in a row, CSULB and the journalism department have earned respect as well as cash prizes for their accomplishments in the Bateman competition.