HRMA Student chapter receiving Outstanding Chapter Award at SHRM25 Conference.
The Human Resource Management Association (HRMA), a student chapter at The School of Business, recently attended the SHRM25 conference and brought home the prestigious Outstanding Chapter Award, an honor that recognizes excellence in student leadership, programming, and professional engagement.
"As Co-President and Director of Merit Award for PSU HRMA, one of my responsibilities was submitting our annual SHRM merit award application," said Thomas Lemelin, Co-President of PSU HRMA. "Our chapter has earned the Superior Merit Award every year since 1983, so I felt a lot of pressure not to be the one to break that legacy. When we arrived in San Diego and the winners for the Merit and Superior Merit categories were being announced and our names were not called, I started to freak out. I thought, 'Did I mess something up? Did we not qualify this year?' I could hear myself blinking. Then came the Outstanding Chapter Awards—the highest honor a SHRM student chapter can receive, and our chapter's name was one of the few recognized in the nation. That moment was overwhelming in the best way. It made all the hard work feel worth it and filled me with a sense of pride and gratitude that I carried for the rest of the conference."
Thomas added, "I’m deeply grateful to have been part of an incredible student organization like PSU HRMA. Not only for the support they gave me over the past year and the opportunity to succeed and earn this award, but also for the chance to accept it in person. That high reminded me why I care so deeply about this work and inspires me to keep striving for the best in my career."
Held annually, the SHRM conference is the largest gathering of HR professionals and students in the world, with participants from over 80 countries.The 2025 event provided PSU students the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, attend skill-building sessions, and celebrate the work of student chapters nationwide.
“It has been an honor to serve as Faculty Advisor to PSU HRMA since 2022,” says Jeffrey Nelson. “With the support of the The School of Business and PHRMA, students were able to attend the SHRM national conference in Chicago in 2024 for the first time since prior to the COVID pandemic. For students to attend again this year in San Diego, to receive this recognition in front of peer institutions from across the country, and to make these lifelong professional connections is incredibly rewarding.”
About HRMA at PSU
PSU HRMA has been an active, student-led chapter affiliated with the national Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) since 1981. The chapter’s mission is to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the real-world HR profession. Through networking events, hands-on experiences, and professional development resources, HRMA helps students build meaningful connections and prepare for successful careers in human resources.
PSU HRMA is affiliated with and receives support from the Portland Human Resource Management Association (PHRMA), a supermega chapter with SHRM serving over 1,000 members in the metropolitan area as the premier connection to engage, empower, and inspire. Countless PSU HRMA alumni are active in this community, furthering their own careers and supporting the next generation of professionals. Several alumni serve on the PHRMA board, representing two of the four volunteers on the College Relations committee.
The PSU Human Resource Management Association (HRMA) is open to all students interested in human resources or professional development, regardless of major or degree level. The chapter offers flexible membership options to accommodate a variety of schedules and is currently recruiting for officer positions.
Students interested in joining or learning more are encouraged to contact psuhrma@pdx.edu.