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K-State Today

March 25, 2022

NSSI hosts Spring 2022 Edward Jones Sales Competition

Submitted by Ruthie Gergeni

The National Strategic Selling Institute at Kansas State University hosted the Spring 2022 Edward Jones Sales Competition on Feb. 25. Students from the College of Business and College of Health and Human Sciences competed in the sales competition consisting of one round of role-play events with 22 student competitors. In the scenario, students acted as an Edward Jones financial advisor meeting with a fictitious prospect in an initial needs discovery sales call.

This sales competition allows the opportunity for students to be awarded student merit awards for their performance and demonstration of sales skills in a mock environment. The top students from the sales competition received a $500 student merit award through the Doug E. Hill/Edward Jones Scholarship Fund. This fund was set up to provide financial assistance to students properly enrolled in the College of Business Administration at K-State.

The following students finished top six in the competition, listed in alphabetical order: Kaley Coffman, junior in professional strategic selling and finance, Bonner Springs; Ashley Grills, senior in management, Overland Park; Kaitlin Hiestand, senior in professional strategic selling and finance, Topeka; Cameron Jones, senior in professional strategic selling, Lenexa; Kacy Lewallen, junior in professional strategic selling and marketing, Kansas City, Missouri; and Morgan Waterman, senior in marketing, Ottawa.

"The caliber of these student competitors and their ability to craft and carry out a focused yet engaging sales-oriented conversation is amazing,” said D.C. Hackerott, a financial advisor at Edward Jones. “Kudos to all of these students for their hard work and dedication. It was an honor to witness their excellence!”

The National Strategic Selling Institute, housed in the College of Business Administration, has been named one of the top sales programs in the country for 10 straight years by the Sales Education Foundation. In fall 2018, K-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 the innovative curriculum and sales labs allow students to develop the skills needed to be successful.

For more information on the National Strategic Selling Institute, please contact kstatesalesprogram@k-state.edu.