UPEI students win ASB Case Competition for second year in a row
Teams from UPEI’s School of Business won first and third place at the Atlantic Schools of Business (ASB) Case Competition. The competition was part of the 46th Annual ASB Conference—one of Canada’s longest running academic business conferences, this year held at Saint Mary’s University.
UPEI competed on Saturday, October 22 against five other teams from Atlantic Canada, including Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, St. Francis Xavier University, Crandall University, and Cape Breton University.
“The students really came together in their respective teams and impressed the judges,” said Mary Whitrow, program coordinator and coach of the UPEI teams. “All of us at UPEI can be proud of what they achieved this weekend.”
Teams were given a business case (a narrative about a real-life company and the problems it is facing) they had never seen before. They had three hours to analyze the case and create a solution to the company’s problems. The teams each had 15 minutes to present their recommendations to a panel of academics and industry professionals, followed by a five-minute question period. Judges indicated both UPEI teams showed an excellent understanding of the concepts presented in the case; both presentations stood out for being comprehensive and clearly communicated.
The first-place team included Hannah Dawson (fourth-year BBA, marketing specialization), Shanna Blacquiere (second-year BBA), Krista Oliver (fourth-year BBA, accounting specialization), and Carter MacDonald (fourth-year BBA, accounting specialization).
“I'm so proud of our team's performance at this competition,” said Blacquiere. “We couldn't have had a better start to the season.”
Members of the third-place team are Kate Kinsman (fourth-year BBA, accounting specialization), Alex Dunne (third-year BBA, accounting specialization), Andrew Chapman (third-year BBA, accounting specialization), and Sydney Gallant (third-year BBA).
“Being able to compete at ASB provided a fantastic opportunity to apply the concepts we’ve studied in class to a real-life situation,” said Dunne. “Our result at ASB makes me very excited to see what we can achieve moving forward this year.”
These results continue a tradition of great results for UPEI at the ASB. Last year, UPEI teams placed first and second. In 2014, UPEI placed third. UPEI teams also won first place in 2012 and 2011.
The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.
