UCF Honored for Educational Excellence
With an idea for an app that lets soda drinkers save and share their favorite PepsiCo drink combinations from the company’s self-serve dispensers and vending machines, the UCF Chapter of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) earned a first place finish at the recent Prospanica’s Case Competition in Houston, Texas.
“We were the first undergraduate group to participate in the competition and we tied for first place with an MBA group,” said Ana Gutierrez, senior accounting major and co-founder of the NSHMBA in the UCF College of Business. “It feels surreal!”
Gutierrez and UCF College of Business students Lionel Galvez, Kendra Leung, Waleska Tidd and Bryant Santana along with Juan Carlos Mejia from UCF College of Engineering tied with Texas A&M University for first and earned a $500 prize.
UCF also was recognized at the Brilliante Awards banquet for Educational Excellence after being nominated by Sandra Palacios, president of the professional Orlando Prospanica chapter and a UCF College of Business alumna.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of our students and how they conducted themselves,” said Lonny Butcher, Director of Professional Development at UCF College of Business. “At the College of Business, we push students to be engaged in their own career development. What my students have done at the competition will not only benefit themselves and their classmates, but will also leave a legacy that will engage future students and contribute to their career success.”
The case competition, which was part of the 2016 Prospanica Conference & Career Expo, challenges students to work together to demonstrate knowledge, teamwork and problem–solving skills. This year’s competition saw 46 MBA teams from across the country submit solutions on how PepsiCo can leverage its existing asset base of coolers and fountain dispensers in all markets and regions, with a focus on low cost solutions for developing markets.
UCF and Texas A&M were among four teams that made it to the final round with the University of Houston and Case Western Reserve University rounding out the final four. The four finalists presented their cases before the PepsiCo executive panel in Houston.
The NSHMBA Chapter, which became an official registered organization through UCF in May, was created by three College of Business students and one College of Engineering student as a way to empower Hispanic business professionals to achieve their full educational, economic and social potential. It is one of the first undergraduate student chapters in the nation and currently has 30 active members.
To learn more about the UCF Chapter of National Society of Hispanics MBAs, please visit: www.Prospanica.org