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K-State Today

April 8, 2021

K-State Sales Program to host 2021-2022 Sales Team tryouts

Submitted by Dana Parker

The National Strategic Selling Institute will host virtual tryouts for the 2021-2022 K-State Sales Team on April 21-23. The tryouts are sponsored by Lockton and will consist of three rounds facilitated through the Zoom platform. View an overview of how the tryouts are set up and complete details. 

The Sales Team allows students to further develop their professional skills outside of the classroom and prepare them for future sales careers while competing against other students across the country. Students who are interested in trying out for the Sales Team must meet the following criteria:

  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
  • Admitted into the certificate or major in professional strategic selling.
  • Graduate fall 2021 or later.

Students who meet the criteria must register for tryouts by 5 p.m. Friday, April 16. No late registrations will be accepted. Once registration is received, participants will receive an email with further instructions on how to sign up for Round 1, the complete scenario, as well as other important details. To begin preparation, students can find the scenario description, round overviews, rubrics and other resources on the website

Prizes will be awarded to students who participate. All students who participate and compete in Round 1 will receive a $50 student merit award. Students who advance to Round 2 will receive an additional $50 student merit award. Three students will compete in Round 3 and receive an additional $50 student merit award plus the following:

  • First place: $1,000 student merit award.
  • Second place: $750 student merit award.
  • Third place: $500 student merit award.

Also, the students advancing to Round 2 will be invited to interview for a spot on the K-State Sales Team for the 2021-2022 academic year. Interviews will take place the week of April 26.

"We are very grateful for Lockton's support and sponsoring the 2021 Sales Team tryouts," said Kellie Jackson, managing director of the National Strategic Selling Institute and sales team coach. "This is a great opportunity for students to showcase their skills as well as apply the sales process as learned in the classroom. Our team is excited to engage with all participants virtually as we select the future sales leaders of the K-State Sales team."

The K-State Sales Team is in the College of Business Administration's National Strategic Selling Institute, which has been named one of the top sales programs in the country for eight straight years by the Sales Education Foundation. The team consists of students who are enrolled in the certificate or major in professional strategic selling. In fall 2018, Kansas State became just the 19th university in the U.S. to offer a major in professional strategic selling. Students can also earn a certificate in professional strategic selling, which is open to all majors at the university. The professional strategic selling program introduces students to the fundamentals of sales and through its innovative curriculum and sales labs, students develop the skills needed to be successful.

For more information on the K-State Sales Team or the upcoming tryouts, please contact Kellie Jackson, managing director of the National Strategic Selling Institute and sales team coach, at kelliejackson@k-state.edu