Penn State Scranton Professor of Business Loan (Emily) Pham recently led a team of four students in The Council for Retail Sales Collegiate Case Competition at DeSales University, which proved to be a valuable learning experience for the entire team. Team members included, from left: Conner Sheruda, Nathaniel Powell, Pham, Charisse Lamothe and Kalyssa Shedd.
DUNMORE, Pa. — Penn State Scranton Professor of Business Loan "Emily" Pham led a team of four students in the Council for Retail Sales Collegiate Case Competition, held last month at DeSales University. While the team, which consisted of students in Penn State Scranton's business degree program, did not clinch victory, their journey was marked by invaluable academic and professional growth.
“Although our students did not win the competition, I am incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication to this competition,” Pham said. “The students have learned a lot, both academically and professionally. I believe opportunities like this should be encouraged to enable students to get out of their comfort zones to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.”
Nathaniel Powell, one of the participating students, reflected on the rigorous preparation the team underwent. “The project initially seemed straightforward,” Powell remarked, “but as we delved into it, I realized the substantial amount of research and effort required.”
The team dedicated numerous hours to studying the assigned company, Theory of Five, and crafting a marketing strategy within a constrained budget.
Kalyssa Shedd said she was grateful for the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. “Participating in this challenge provided me with a platform to engage with real business executives,” she said, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and effective communication in achieving common goals.
Conner Sheruda highlighted the competition's alignment with real-world business practices and said the team's presentation, which included suggestions for the Theory of Five company, was well received by both judges and company representatives. “The Collegiate Case Competition provided a wonderful, authentic learning experience," said Sheruda.
Charisse Lamothe, echoing her peers’ sentiments, emphasized the practical skills gained from the experience. “From planning in a short time to the confidence shown during the presentation, the experience prepared me for real-life situations," Lamothe said.
Overall, the Penn State Scranton team felt that the Theory of Five Collegiate Challenge proved to be a transformative experience for them.
