Kansas State University

Students take honors at spring 2022 Lockton Sales Competition

Submitted by Ruthie Gergeni

This photo includes, from left to right, KC Collins with Mylo, a Lockton Company; Kendall Batten, junior in marketing; Jeremy Duane with Mylo, a Lockton Company; Kaitlin Hiestand, senior in professional strategic selling and finance; Michael Hernandez with Mylo, a Lockton Company; and Hunter Hartner, sophomore in professional strategic selling and marketing.

The National Strategic Selling Institute at Kansas State University hosted the spring 2022 Lockton Sales Competition April 7-8 at the College of Business Building. Students enrolled in the professional strategic selling certificate or major in competed in this two-day competition, which consisted of three rounds of role-plays with representatives from Mylo, a Lockton Company, and Lockton Affinity. The competition started with 22 student competitors in round one and 15 students moved on to round two. Three students competed in the final round.

Kendall Batten, junior in marketing, Olathe, placed first and received a $100 student merit award as well as a guaranteed internship with Mylo, a Lockton Company. Kaitlin Hiestand, senior in professional strategic selling and finance, Topeka, placed second and received a $100 student merit award. Hunter Hartner, sophomore in professional strategic selling and marketing, Belleville, placed third and received a $100 student merit award.

The following students competed in the spring 2022 Lockton Sales Competition:

• Jacqueline Anzalone, senior in marketing, Kansas City, Missouri.
• Kendall Batten, junior in marketing, Olathe.
• Blake Bontrager, senior in professional strategic selling and marketing, Wichita.
• Tony Borunda-Nunez, junior in kinesiology, Liberal.
• Kaley Coffman, junior in professional strategic selling and finance, Bonner Springs.
• Samuel Coffman, freshman in business administration pre-professional, Bonner Springs. 
• Logan Cone, sophomore in business administration pre-professional, Lone Tree, Colorado.
• Ashley Grills, senior in management, Overland Park.
• Hunter Hartner, sophomore in professional strategic selling and marketing, Belleville.
• Kaitlin Hiestand, senior in professional strategic selling and finance, Topeka.
• Kirsten Jackson, senior in marketing, Olathe.
• Lydia Johnson, junior in professional strategic selling and Spanish, Prior Lake, Minnesota.
• Grant Longwell, freshman in business administration pre-professional, Stilwell.
• Jack McGuire, sophomore in professional strategic selling, Shawnee, Kansas.
• Taylor Moorman, freshman in business administration pre-professional, Emporia.
• Jadin O’Reilly, sophomore in computer science, Wichita.
• Lucas Oliver, junior in professional strategic selling, Leawood.
• Cameron Pavelschak, junior in professional strategic selling, Mascoutah, Illinois.
• Aidan Taylor, sophomore in professional strategic selling, Shawnee.
• Emma Tibbetts, senior in professional strategic selling and marketing, Shawnee.
• Colton Williams, junior in professional strategic selling, Osage City.
• Halle Zwetow, junior in professional strategic selling and marketing, Wichita.

All 22 students who participated in the competition received a $25 student merit award for round one. The students who advanced to round two and the final round received an additional $25 merit award for each round of participation. Each round consisted of a role-play scenario with a representative from Lockton acting as the customer and the student acting as a Lockton associate facilitating the conversation.

"It's always a joy to visit Kansas State because the events are so well-planned and the students so prepared. Entering the workforce as a recent college grad is always challenging, especially in sales," said Jeremy Duane, Mylo, a Lockton Company director of sales. "These talented individuals are gaining a real competitive advantage — and we look forward to connecting with them in the future."

The National Strategic Selling Institute is housed in the College of Business Administration and has been named one of the top sales programs in the country for 10 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, 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.