CONGRATULATIONS to Jessica Rye, APR, for being recognized by the National Space Club Florida Committee!
Senior Manager of Regional Communications for ATK, Jessica Rye, APR, will be presented with the Harry Kolcum Memorial News & Communication Award on November 10, 2009. Long-time member and Past President of the Florida Public Relations Association, Jessica will be recognized by the National Space Club Florida Committee (NSCFL) at their November luncheon.
Each year, the Kolcum Award “recognizes area representatives of the news media and communications professions for excellence in their ability to communicate the space story along Florida’s Space Coast and throughout the world,” according to the National Space Club website. Also being recognized this year is Scott Harris, Anchor for Channel 13 NEWS.
Prior to joining ATK, Jessica served as the Chief of External and Internal Communications for United Launch Alliance, and she served as NASA’s primary spokesperson and public affairs officer for the Shuttle Program at Kennedy Space Center. Prior to joining NASA, Jessica served as strategic media relations specialist for United Space Alliance.
In August, Jessica was named the Public Relations Professional of the Year by the Space Coast FPRA. In 2007, Jessica served as State President of the Florida Public Relations Association, a 1,500-member organization. Jessica earned her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) in 2001.
The Kolcum Communications award is named in honor of Harry Kolcum, the former managing editor of Aviation Week & Space Technology, who was Cape bureau chief from 1980 to 1993 prior to his death in 1994. Kolcum was a founding member of the NSCFL. In 2008, the award was presented to Leigh Holt, Brevard County’s Government Relations Manager, and Justin Ray, editor of Spaceflight Now, a Cape Canaveral-based space news website.
To be selected, honorees must be either a public affairs professional who speaks on behalf of a corporate, government or military organization that is involved with launch or mission operations along Florida’s Space Coast, or a professional member of the news media who regularly covers space and launch operations at the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The NSCFL November luncheon and awards presentation is being held at the DoubleTree Oceanfront Hotel in Cocoa Beach on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm EST. The cost to attend is $17.00 for NSCFL members, $20 for non-members. Payment may be made at the door. More information can be found at http://www.nscfl.org.