The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is working with Culinary Students of Northern Michigan University (CSNMU) to host the Hometown Taste-Off where all-you-can-eat pizza will be offered for $5.

The 5th Annual Hometown Taste-Off, held at the NMU Jacobetti Complex, will bring pizza from a variety of different local pizzerias to students and Marquette community members from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14. Proceeds will benefit the Marquette Special Olympic powerlifting team and professional development for PRSSA and CSNMU.

Those who attend will have the opportunity to sample and vote on what local pizza they like best at the taste-off, said Jordan Borges, junior public relations major and chair of the Hometown Taste-off event.

“It’s a very welcoming event. You can come, eat pizza and relax,” Borges said.

PRSSA has also been reaching out to the community to promote the taste-off, he added.

“For us as students, we’re always cooped up and on campus, so it would be good to see some of the locals come out and participate with us and interact with the
students,” Borges said.

This year, PRSSA is vamping the event with door prizes, a guest appearance from the local Double Trouble DJ’s and homemade dessert pizza from CSNMU, according to a press release for the event.

Along with working on this event as a fundraiser, members of PRSSA have been able to get real-world experience in their field through helping with promotions and set up, said Borges.

“Taking on this type of event, it kind of gave me a taste of what I want to do with the rest of my life in pursuing public relations further. It’s been a great experience going out, helping with the logistics side, media, promotions,” he said.

Public relation majors will find themselves working with campaigns and organizing events in their future careers, so working on the taste-off provides some first-hand experience, President of PRSSA and senior public relations major Alexandria Watson said.

“The taste-off gives hands-on experience on the makings of a good event,” said Watson. “Then, when we get to the actual event, students are there from start to finish, so no avenues are left out and they get to experience it first-hand.”

Watson believes that this event is important to both the students and the community because it supports campus groups and donates to the Marquette Special Olympic Area 36 Powerlifting Team.

“This is really important, not only because you are giving back to your community and fellow students, but because it’s so fun too,” Watson said. “It’s support that’s good for your community and the university.”