An Ohio Dominican University (ODU) team of Public Relations and Marketing Communications students has placed third in the EdVenture Partners (EVP) and Department of Homeland Security鈥檚 (DHS鈥檚) Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships 鈥淚nvent2Prevent鈥� spring 2024 competition, which empowered university and high school students to develop and deploy innovative initiatives that produce measurable results to prevent targeted violence and terrorism.

Competing against 25 collegiate teams, ODU students Brynn Mullet 鈥�24 (MBA 鈥�25), Makenna Riley 鈥�24, Katelyn Woodley 鈥�25 and Elizabeth Zerby 鈥�25 worked with their adviser, ODU Associate Professor of Public Relations Natalie Kompa, Ed.D., to develop 鈥淪helve the Hate,鈥� an initiative which provides resources tailored for middle school, high school, college and community libraries to help prevent online radicalization and targeted gun violence.

ODU鈥檚 team was one of three selected to present their project to executives with EVP and DHS on June 26, 2024, in Washington, D.C., where they were awarded the 3rd place prize of $3,000. The money will benefit ODU鈥檚 Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter.

鈥淧articipating in this program gave me so much real-world experience that I can now apply in my career,鈥� said Riley. 鈥淭he teamwork that it took to become a top-three national finalist is something I鈥檒l never forget. I can't wait to share this experience with future ODU Panthers.鈥�

鈥淲e are so grateful for the opportunity to participate in this competition and are proud of the work the students created,鈥� added Kompa. 鈥淲e plan to keep growing the Shelve the Hate movement and will be working on grants to expand Shelve the Hate nationwide. You can check us out at .鈥�

ABOUT OHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY
Ohio Dominican University is a comprehensive, four-year, private, liberal arts and master鈥檚 institution, founded in 1911 in the Catholic and Dominican tradition by the Dominican Sisters of Peace. The University has approximately 1,260 students and offers undergraduate degrees in 42 majors and nine graduate degree programs. Ohio Dominican University does not discriminate against any person in employment or educational opportunities because of religious preference, sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, non-performance-related handicap or veteran's status.