A team of undergraduate students from the School of Business Administration took third place in the University’s first showing at the Alpha Kappa Psi Case Competition in Atlanta, Ga. on Feb. 28, 2009. The UM team, representing the Beta Pi chapter of the Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity, included marketing and entrepreneurship major Jordan Chadsey; management science major Alex Prueitt; marketing major Emily Miller; and finance major Lindsey Morgado.

“All of my classes really prepared me because the competition itself was so multifaceted,” said Chadsey. “Preparing for the competition involved a lot of teamwork because we were using different knowledge to come up with the best solution. I definitely plan to compete next year.”

The Case Competition, sponsored for a third year by the Alpha Kappa Psi Foundation, introduces students to the realities of decision making—including having incomplete information, time constraints and conflicting goals—giving them first-hand experience in analyzing business situations. The competition is designed to stimulate students’ thinking by challenging their capabilities and preparing them for future managerial decision making.

The competition is held in conjunction with the Principled Business Leadership Institute (PBLI). The PBLI is held simultaneously in different regions across the country, and offers students a weekend focusing on building skills at the individual level. With sessions on professional and personal development, chapter management, business etiquette and team leadership, students can "piece" together their own weekend by selecting those programs that will benefit the development of the individual student or the chapter as a whole.

Case Competition teams consisted of up to four students and each team presented its analysis of the chosen case at the PBLI. Presentations were made before a panel of professionals. Judges scored the team based on its analysis, presentation and question and answer session. The team representing The College of William and Mary won first place, while the University of Maryland team came in second. The School of Business team received $250 in scholarships from the Carlton J. Seigler Scholarship Fund for placing third in the contest.