Business students bring home medals from Canada’s oldest competition
Students from the School of Business at Okanagan College were front and centre at the prestigious Queen’s University InterCollegiate Business Competition, with 15 students combining for four medals, including the team award for exceptional team spirit.
The competition, held Jan. 13-15 in Kingston, Ont., saw seven teams from the Okanagan School of Business competing in the final weekend. Two-person teams were presented with a business scenario to analyze, develop a solution, and create a presentation to be presented to a panel of judges in a 5.5-hour time frame.
OC students were competing in areas such as human resources, ethics, accounting, debate, digital strategy, marketing, and business policy. Teammates Patrick Gilmour (third year) and Jessica Skerlec (fourth year) were among the winners, coming away with a first-place showing in the human resources competition.
“The entire process challenged me to apply my learnings and strengths from our business program in an environment outside of the classroom,” said Skerlec. “The competition not only allowed me to realize my full potential and improve my confidence but created long-lasting relationships with my incredible teammates and coaches, as well as many individuals from all over the world.”
“I was so ecstatic when we heard our school’s name announced as champions,” added Gilmour. “I felt a great deal of school pride in that moment and still do. I was so glad to be able to attribute this accomplishment to the dedication of our coaches – Roger and Laura – and the entire business program at OC.”
Billed as Canada’s largest, oldest and most prestigious undergraduate case competition, the Queen’s competition takes place in two stages. Over the course of three weeks in October, competitors worked to prepare a quality business report with the top teams advancing to the final weekend.
“Attending competitions allows our students to develop realworld skills in a fast-paced business environment, while at the same time networking with business leaders and peers from around the world,” said Bill Gillett, Dean of the Okanagan School of Business. “Our mission is to transform lives and by attending these competitions, our students are becoming job ready as they get set to enter the business world.”
After the final weekend’s three days, several OC students and professors won awards:
First – (HR): Patrick Gilmour and Jessica Skerlec – Coached by Laura Thurnheer and Roger Wheeler
Second – (Debate): Braden Hall and Manmeet Dhaliwal – Coached by Bob Groves
Second – (Ethics): Kimberly Cornell – Coached by Robert Ryan and Caroline Gilchrist
Third – (Accounting): Annika Kirk and Connor Margetts – Coached by Mary Ann Knoll and Adrian Fontenla
Co-Chairperson Award – Exceptional Team Spirit
“This really is a tremendous accomplishment for our teams. It’s a credit to the students, professors and everyone involved in the Okanagan School of Business,” said Andrew Hay, Okanagan College provost and vice president academic. “I want to congratulate the entire team on being awarded the Co-Chairperson
Award for team spirit.”