The Tau Beta Pi Association

Note to Scholars: This is a SAMPLE news release that is being provided to help you write your own release for your hometown newspaper. SEE SECOND PAGE FOR GUIDELINES.

NEWS RELEASE

THE TAU BETA PI ASSOCIATION

The Engineering Honor Society

TENNESSEE ALPHA CHAPTER

The University of Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee 37996

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: John Jones, Publicity Chair

865/546-4578

Miles Awarded Tau Beta Pi Scholarship

Joan W. Miles, 134 Main Street, Clinton, TN, has been awarded for the 2009-10 year, a scholarship from Tau

Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. Miles, the daughter of Mary and James Miles, Clinton, will receive a

cash award of $2,000 for her senior year of engineering study. Tau Beta Pi Scholarships are awarded to junior

members on a competitive basis of high scholarship, campus leadership and service, and promise of future

contributions to the engineering profession.

An honors student majoring in civil engineering at the University of Tennessee, Miles is president of the

Tennessee Alpha Chapter of Tau Beta Pi; a member of Pi Tau Sigma honor society; and a member of the

Society of Women Engineers. Miles has been a varsity member of UT Knoxville’s swim team. She is a

2006 graduate of West High School.

Tau Beta Pi is the world’s largest engineering society. Membership represents the highest honor to be

obtained by an engineering student and is awarded on the basis of high scholarship and exemplary character.

Prepare a news release using the following guidelines:

1)  Use high-quality paper.

2)  Type NEWS RELEASE in bold caps at the top in a font size larger than the text.

3)  Include Tau Beta Pi Association, The Engineering Honor Society, the name of your chapter and address.

4)  Your release should always have a header that includes “For Immediate Release” or release on a specific date, as well as a contact name (president or publicity chair), phone number, and email address if appropriate.

5)  If your story is exclusively for one paper, state that fact near your release date information, i.e. “Exclusive for the Daily Collegian.” If you are submitting the same story to competing publications, prepare a special version for each, and send an original to each.

6)  Include a concise headline in bold; not all in caps and no longer than two lines (78 characters). Avoid using first names in the headline.

7)  Use double-spacing in the body and wide margins.

8)  Keep it brief and begin with a two-sentence summary which clearly states the news and explains why it is important.

9)  Give a brief description of Tau Beta Pi.

Your university or school of engineering’s public relations office may be able to assist you in preparing news releases to your members’ and electees’ hometown newspapers and national fraternity and sorority magazines.