Texas State University Wins Top Honors in PRSSA’s 2026 Bateman Case Study Competition

Texas State becomes first university in more than two decades to place

two finalist teams in the national competition

NEW YORK, May 7, 2026 - The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications, announced this week the winners of the 2026 Bateman Case Study Competition.

First place was awarded to Texas State University's AdvoCats team. Montclair State University earned second place, and Texas State University's StarCats team received third place honors.

This year's competition featured 46 entries representing 35 colleges and universities nationwide, making it one of the most competitive Bateman competitions in recent years.

The competition focused on ACCESS Newswire's new educational program, which gives college professors complimentary access to the platform, allowing students to gain hands-on experience with press release distribution, media pitching and coverage tracking across multiple channels. Texas State University also made Bateman history, becoming the first school to place two finalist teams in the competition since the University of South Carolina in 2004. In addition, Texas State had not advanced a finalist team since 2005.

The Bateman Case Study Competition challenges PRSSA members to create and implement a comprehensive public relations campaign for an actual client. Since its founding in 1973, the competition has served as one of the most prestigious and rigorous opportunities for students pursuing careers in communications.

"What makes the Bateman Competition so impactful is that students are solving real-world communications challenges while developing strategic thinking, creativity and measurable execution skills," said PRSA Board Chair Heide Harrell, MA, APR. "The level of innovation and professionalism demonstrated by this year's teams reflects the incredible future of the communications profession."

Texas State University AdvoCats earned first-place recognition for their "Future Forward" campaign, a strategic initiative designed to position ACCESS Newswire as an essential educational and communications partner across Central Texas.

Through hands-on demonstrations, immersive university events such as "Ready, Set, Launch," digital engagement and regional partnerships, the campaign connected students, professors, entrepreneurs and university marketing and communications teams directly with the platform. The initiative transformed awareness into adoption by empowering students with career-ready skills, supporting faculty with applied learning opportunities and providing professionals with tools to strengthen outreach efforts.

The campaign exceeded all established objectives while helping establish ACCESS Newswire as a trusted partner invested in the next generation of communications leaders.

"Our campaign was about giving students real access to the tools and expectations they'll face in their careers," said Shauné Smith, Texas State AdvoCats account executive. "The Future Forward campaign brought ACCESS Newswire into classrooms and into the hands of students who learned how to execute like professionals. By the end, we weren't just promoting career readiness, we were actively ensuring it."

The Bateman Case Study Competition was renamed in 1983 in honor of the late J. Carroll Bateman, APR, a PRSA president who was instrumental in the founding of PRSSA.

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About PRSSA

The Public Relations Student Society of America is the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications. Since 1967, PRSSA has served hundreds of thousands of student members through professional development opportunities, educational resources, scholarships and mentorship programs designed to prepare students for successful careers in communications. PRSSA is active on college and university campuses across the United States, as well as in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit prssa.org.