A team of Concordia University Ann Arbor students will have the chance to apply business and marketing lessons learned in the classroom through a unique real world educational competition.
The Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) is sponsoring the Sixth Annual National Student Marketing Competition this weekend in St. Louis, MO.
Nine Concordia University System schools are sending a participating team of undergraduate students, each presenting a marketing plan to a group of prominent judges. The judges score the teams and a winner is announced and awarded a $5,000 prize.
Four Haab School of Business students, all either Marketing or Business Communications majors, represent the Concordia Ann Arbor team: Michelle Murnen, Samantha Earhart, Justine Jahnke, and Courtney Tyler. Associate Professor of Marketing Steve Van Oostenbrugge will accompany the team as CUAA’s faculty mentor.
The 2017 competitive assignment asks students to develop a comprehensive plan that raises the awareness of LCEF and how it impacts individuals, the community, and the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) and also demonstrates LCEF as a catalyst for empowered ministries and people sharing the Gospel.
In turn, LCEF looks forward to the reverse mentoring that the students provide as they share their worldview and give marketing advice from a student perspective.
“This competition is an incredible learning experience for the students, and our team has dedicated a lot of time and research to this year’s presentation,” said Van Oostenbrugge. “We are also eager to hear the creative work of the other Concordia University System schools.”
The all-day marketing competition culminates Friday, April 7 at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis, MO.
For updates on the competition via social media, use #NSMC2017 or visit here.
— Rachel Thoms served on Concordia University's Strategic Communications team from 2015-2022. Any inquiries about this story can be sent to news@cuaa.edu.
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