COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America honored public relations
practitioners from across the state during the 2007 Mercury Awards.

At the Columbia Museum of Art on April 19, "Mercury Takes Flight" brought together more than 120 communications professionals from across the state who, in their positions at corporations, non-profit organizations and agencies, are tasked with getting ideas off the ground each day. Silver Wing awards recognize outstanding communications tactics and Mercury Awards recognize excellence in public relations programs and campaigns. Several of the chapter's past presidents were in attendance to help commemorate the chapter's 40th anniversary.

Judges from the Austin, Texas chapter of PRSA scored the more than 100 entries collected.

The "Best in Silver Wing" honor went to Kelly J. Davis, APR of Davis Public Relations and Marketing for her Cigarette Tax Media Campaign. The "Best of Mercury" honor went to Jeanne Reynolds of Colonial Supplemental Insurance for the company's internal communications during the annual United Way Campaign.

Allison Skipper of the S.C. State Ports Authority was selected as "Rookie of the Year." Hunter S. Howard of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce received the "Executive Excellence Award." Kelly J. Davis, APR was honored as the "W. Thomas Duke Distinguished Public Relations Practitioner of the Year." The award was named this year for Tom Duke, APR, Fellow PRSA, who will retire this year and is a past president of the South Carolina chapter.

SCPRSA awards two scholarships to students who are members of Public Relations Student Society of America. The winners of this year's Mike Witkoski Memorial Scholarship are Libby Krah, of the University of South Carolina and Jaclyn Kollmar, of the College of Charleston.

For more information, visit http://www.scprsa.org/.