Undergraduate students from the Greehey School of Business continue to command the spotlight at national competitions, such as the annual Free Trade Alliance International Business Plan competition and the Enactus United States Regional Competition.

Business students compete at 2017 FTA competition

Irving Tochez, Eyerusalem Debebe, Susana Salinas and Ivis Palacios placed second in the Free Trade Alliance International Business Plan competition after facing competition from universities across the country, including Texas A&M University-San Antonio and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The students worked intensely to develop a business plan for a new mock company, Second Chance Fruits and Vegetables, and then presented their plan to a panel of judges.

“I am very proud of their dedication to the development of an outstanding business plan with real-world potential,” said Jeffrey E. Johnson, Ph.D., Professor of International Business and Director of the Center for Global Business Studies. “It has been a rewarding learning experience for the students that extends well beyond the classroom. Second place in this competition represents a significant achievement.”

Enactus team at competition

The St. Mary’s Enactus team competed against 35 schools in Dallas on April 10 at the Enactus United States Regional Competition. The St. Mary’s team includes Guillermo Avelar, junior Marketing major; Metzery Cantu, junior Biology major; Rosa Cruz Cove, senior Biology major; Jose Parrilla, senior Information Systems major; Lucia Paz, senior Management major; and Jassmyn Stevens, sophomore International Relations major.

Teams of students develop and implement business projects that aim to improve the living conditions of communities around the world. After hours of hard work and preparation, St. Mary’s advanced to nationals, May 21-23 in Kansas City, Missouri.

“I am excited to move forward to the national competition,” said Parrilla, president of Enactus at St. Mary’s. “We also have a lot more work ahead of us. We have to refine our presentation and our story. We’re heading to the big leagues now. We will be representing our projects, our team and the University. Major companies will be attending the national competition; we have to make sure we show our best face.”

Enactus is a community of student, academic and business leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable, world.

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