Snapper Editor Wins 2013 Communications Internship Award

Michael Blackson, a senior English major from Philadelphia and current editor-in-chief of Millersville University’s newspaper, The Snapper, was recently named the recipient of The College and University Public Relations Association of Pennsylvania’s (CUPRAP) 2013 Communications Internship Award for Students of Color. Blackson is the first student from Millersville University to receive the CUPRAP award since its establishment 30 years ago.

According to CUPRAP’s website, “recipients are chosen from various colleges or universities in the state of Pennsylvania based on their communication skills, academic ability and exhibition of their creativity.”  The winner receives a stipend of $1, 500 to help with an internship or course they may be taking to gain experience, or learn more about their chosen field of study. When asked how it felt being the recipient of this year’s internship award, Blackson remarked that “it was an honor just to be nominated.”

During his time as editor-in chief, Blackson had the rare opportunity to meet with Dr. Francine McNairy, before her retirement, and now with acting President Dr. James McCollum once a month. “I was never much of a people person and being in direct contact with someone of that stature who wanted to hear what I had to say, was motivating,” said Blackson.

Blackson credits The Snapper for preparing him for his professional post-graduate ambitions of entering the realm of investigative journalism or reporting hard news for a major news publication. Blackson was honored for receiving this award at the 2013 CUPRAP Leadership Development Conference during an awards luncheon on March 14 at the Hershey Hotel in Hershey, Pa.