Kansas State University

Winners announced in K-State Innovation and Strategy Case Competition

Submitted by Brent Fritzemeier

A Kansas State University competition has awarded five student teams with more than $5,000 in prize money.

The inaugural K-State Innovation and Strategy Case Competition gives students experience in analyzing a current business case and providing recommendations for the company. The competition is organized by the Center Principled Business in the College of Business Administration and is open to all students and majors in the university.

This semester's final round of the competition was modified to an online format in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, nearly 300 students and 70 teams participated in the competition. For the first round, students submitted recommendation reports for a case related to alternative proteins. From there, seven teams advanced to the final round of the competition.

"This case competition was organized as a way to help students develop critical thinking and decision-making skills," said Marcia Hornung, director of the Center for Principled Business. "We are proud to have completed this inaugural event despite the challenging circumstances. It would not have been possible without the help and support of faculty members and community partners who volunteered their time in support of students."

This year's winners are as follows:

• First place, $500 per team member
  • Alexander Gianino, Dane Freberg, Ethan Thurlow and Winter Sparks. 
• Second place, $350 per team member
  • Sara Hast, Emma Hill, Becca Knudson and Haley Peterson. 
• Third place, $250 per team member
  • Ryan Heningon, Dillon Schroeder and Jason Wendland. 
• Honorable mention, $150 per team member  
  • Braden Fain, Claire Rainey, Sage Petrusa and Peyton Graves. 
  • Jacey Goetz, Sarah Kerrigan, Madalyn Taylor and Chase Graves.