Selkirk College Business Administration Program students matched skills cemented over the last few months at the Ninth Annual Business Competition.
With students now preparing for winter semester final exams, the competition is a fun final project that tests their knowledge, ability to work with a team and initiative.
First year students in action during the marketing competition which tasked students with preparing a campaign for Selkirk's CEES.
"Our annual business competitions are always an exciting event and this year's ninth annual didn’t disappoint,” says Business Administration Instructor Tiffany Snauwaert. “Both our first and second year undergrad Business Administration students stepped up and displayed their business acumen quite handily."
Applying Knowledge in Practical Scenarios
The first year marketing competition asked students to create a video augmented by a marketing campaign that promoted Selkirk College's Co-op Education and Employment Services (CEES) program. The campaign was then displayed and presented to a panel of four industry judges in a tradeshow format.
The second year students were put to the test in a case competition. Students were tasked with putting together a strategy to help a cash-poor company that sells sports cleaning solutions. This strategy then had to be presented and defended in front of a panel of four industry judges.
Judges in the competition faced some difficult choices in coming up with the day's winners.
“It gives you a lot of insight,” says second year student Devin Fear. “The people that judge you have a lot of experience in the real world and they bring a lot of great questions. It’s a good test to see how we can apply the knowledge we have learned.”
Second year Business Administration students choose either accounting or management as streams of study. Fear, who grew up in the Crescent Valley east of Castlegar, is in the management pathway and says the competition was a great experience.
“It puts you in the position to be on your toes,” says the 20-year-old who plans to complete a degree with two more years at a school in the Lower Mainland. “You don’t have a whole lot of time to prepare, you get given a situation and you have to come up with solutions. This is a good test of how it works.”
Tough to Choose the Winners
The high quality presentations and ideas provided a challenge for the judges who had to pick an eventual winner. Students, faculty and judges gathered in the Castlegar Staff Lounge later in the afternoon to hand out the awards.
First place in the first year marketing competition went to Your Market Media team of Lisa Griko, Megan Forrest, Shelby Haller, Jatinder Jit and Melissa McCready. The group was presented their award by school chair Rhonda Schmitz (left).
Second year case competition winners included: Kootenay Konsulting (third place) - Thomas Hardy, Devin Fear, Nicky Maung and Varinder Kang; Stratton Oakmont Consulting (second place) - Pammy Uppal, Connor McLaughlin, Dylan Smith, Marissa DeRosa and Jesse Adams; International Business Advisors (first place and students' choice) - Jared Seutter, Julien Atlani, Grace Jeong and Severine Francois.
First year marketing competition winners included: Mighty Morphin Marketers (students' choice) - Dawn-Marie English, Wen Jia Chen, Kanako Suzuki, Ajlan Alajlan, Robin Sones and Stefan Virtanen; Valhalla Visionaries (third place) - Heather Tennant, Sam Billingsley, Natasha Rego, Jing Wen Xue, Sing-Hsien Ling and Amber Arnold; Target Markers (second place) - Megan Bond, Meaghan Woodburn, Debbie Cyr and Gurwinder Singh; Your Market Media (first place) Lisa Griko, Megan Forrest, Shelby Haller, Jatinder Jit and Melissa McCready.
Top Student Award Winner Savours Selkirk Experience
Second year student Beau Taylor took home the Top Student Award for his efforts on the day.
“I’ve never really liked presenting, but after two years in this program you get rid of the nerves,” says Taylor. “It was a lot of fun getting up there to speak about something you have worked hard on. Two years ago I would not have thought I would be in this place. It’s certainly a confidence booster and it’s a nice honour.”
Beau Taylor receives his Top Student award from school chair Rhonda Schmitz.
Taylor has had a great year at Selkirk College both in and out of the classroom. As a key member of the Selkirk Saints hockey team that captured the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League Championship last month, Taylor has been on a winning streak. The Australian now plans to take both his hockey skills and business ambitions to university next season along with his linemates/classmates Scott Swiston and Connor McLaughlin.
“It’s been a great couple of weeks and now it’s coming to end,” says Taylor. “It’s been so awesome to be here in the middle of the mountains, with all the great teachers and the hockey team. It’s been amazing and I am going to miss it.”
Sponsors of the Ninth Annual Business Competition included: Yule Anderson Chartered Accountants, Columbia Basin Trust, Kootenay Association for Science and Technology, Castlegar Chamber of Commerce, Kootenay Savings Credit Union, Chartered Professional Accountants, Human Resource Management Association of BC, Royal Roads University, Castlegar Starbucks, Black Rooster Classic Bar & Grill, University of Lethbridge, Okanagan College, Leo Perra Foundation and Selkirk College.
Learn more about the Selkirk College Business Administration Program and join us on Facebook.
-30-
