Kansas State University

MANHATTAN — Five teams of Kansas State University students were awarded $2,750 in cash prizes as part of the recent Phillips 66 Business Ethics Case Competition, a collaboration between the university's College of Business Administration and Phillips 66.

The competition saw 22 teams made up of two to four students putting their skills to the test by completing a written analysis of a complex business ethics case study. Their analysis and recommendations needed to incorporate important ethical principles while balancing with the bottom line of the business and its financial goals.

After submitting their written analysis, the teams' responses were ranked, and the top five teams were selected as finalists to present their final report to a panel of judges. First place earned $1,000; second place, $750; third place, $500; and two teams earned honorable mention honors and $250.

"The case competition provides students with a good opportunity to examine a real-world issue while balancing both ethical and business/financial considerations," said William Turnley, the Sam and Karen Forrer chair in business ethics and interim head of the department of management. "We are very grateful to those who so willingly gave their time and resources to allow us to provide students with this opportunity."

Students on the prize-winning teams include:

From Greater Kansas City: Kensey Smith, a senior in management from Overland Park, first-place team; Julie Yankey, senior in marketing, Overland Park, third-place team; and Jordan Keene, senior in open option, Shawnee, honorable mention team.

Pierce Stephens, senior in management information systems, second-place team, and Reghan Tank, senior in mass communications,honorable mention team, both from Manhattan; Drew Maddox, senior in accounting, Marion, honorable mention team; Jenny Steiner, senior in accounting, McPherson, honorable mention team; Braedon Burgess, senior in mass communications, Topeka, honorable mention team; Jake Pritchard, senior in finance, Valley Center, second-place team.

From Wichita: Alex Augustyniewicz, senior in marketing, first-place team; Eric Self, senior in marketing, first place team; and Joe Smith, junior in entrepreneurship, honorable mention team.

From out of state: Hanna Penny, senior in management, Burlington, Colorado, third-place team.