From the Classroom to the Dunk Tank: College of Business Hosts a Variety of Student Engagement Activities

Fall semester at the College of Business is full of student engagement and learning activities, ranging from the Back to Business BBQ at the beginning of the semester to the Sales Competition at the end. All of these events, plus Professional Development Month in September, connect students with their professors and peers, as well as professionals from the College’s expansive group of business partners.

Back To Business

Back to Business was back for its third year - with pie! The event, hosted by College of Business clubs and held during the University’s Bengal Welcome Week, is a way for the College’s clubs, faculty and staff to welcome back returning students and introduce themselves to new ones. Activities included lunch, club booths, yard games, a dunk tank and pie throwing - the last two specifically for students to dunk or pie a professor.

“Some of the first ways I interacted with students on campus was participating in the dunk tank and Pie the Professor at the Back to Business BBQ,” said Assistant Professor of Marketing Haley Hardman. “I could tell the students loved having the opportunity to dunk their professors, and I had a blast bracing in anticipation with each throw! The atmosphere was filled with an incredible energy to kick off the semester. It was the perfect way to be welcomed into the Bengal family!”

Boise Entrepreneur Week

At the beginning of October, College of Business and College of Science and Engineering students had the opportunity to attend Boise Entrepreneur Week, as well as tour a variety of businesses with locations in the Treasure Valley. All events offered an assortment of networking and professional development opportunities.

“This year we were able to take 45 students, which was the most we’ve ever had. Idaho State also had the most representation of any University in the state,” said Assistant Marketing Professor and Executive Director of Professional Development and Sales Excellence John Ney. “It was a great two days.”

“We got to tour three, high impact start-up companies and Micron,” said College of Business student and ASISU Student Body President Emma Watts. “Thank you to Micron Technology, Clēnera, Proud Source Water, and LeanLaw - Legal Billing Software for showing and inspiring me to work toward our future way of life!”

Bill Stratton Distinguished Research Scholar

The Bill Stratton Distinguished Scholar Research Seminar Series provides students, and the community as a whole, with a variety of insights, networking and research collaboration opportunities within the business world. This semester’s speaker was Dr. Michael Ahearne, C.T. Bauer Professor of Marketing and Stagner Sales Excellence Institute Research Director.

“It was an honor welcoming Dr. Mike Ahearne to campus as part of our Stratton Distinguished Research Scholar Series,” said College of Business Dean and Michael C. Ruettgers Professor of Marketing Shane Hunt. “Dr. Ahearne is the leading sales scholar in the world and his presentations were incredibly insightful for our students, professors, and business community.”

Executive In Residence

The Executive in Residence program invites successful alumni to visit campus and present to a variety of classes, meet one-onone with students, participate in panels, network with students and faculty, as well as hold a college-wide presentation. The Executive in Residence event is an incredible opportunity for College of Business undergraduate and graduate students to gain valuable connections with high-level leaders in a variety of business fields and learn about their rise to success. This semester’s Executive in Residence was Chief Marketing Officer, Payments Leader and Advisor Melissa Lowry.

“Melissa was a fantastic speaker. Not only does she have incredible experience with well-known organizations, but she was able to really relate to the students and the experience they are having now. It was great to see students light up as they heard Melissa’s story,” said Director of Graduate Studies Kristine McCarty. “In particular, it was great for them to hear her story of how well her undergraduate coursework in her finance degree here prepared her for not just her interview but her early career in investment banking. It helps our students see that there are, truly, so many opportunities ahead of them as future graduates of Idaho State University.”

Sales Competition

Held twice a year, the Sales Competition is an opportunity for students across the University to gain invaluable experience by diving into the principles of sales for a chance to win cash prizes. In the competition, teams of two students work together as a buyer and a seller to sell a product or service of their choice. Students are judged on a number of criteria designed around five major concepts, as well as communication and presentation skills. This semester’s competition was sponsored by Federated Insurance.

Participating in the competition gives students a chance to hone their skills in oral and written communication, practice engagement and leadership, as well as working in teams - all major attributes sought by employers of any industry. This semester’s competition saw an increase in students from outside the College of Business, as well as several returning teams who utilized feedback they received last semester to come back even stronger.

The College of Business thanks everyone who participated and this semester’s judges - Anthony Zerwig and Sal LoMagro from Federated Insurance, Dave Thompson from Sherwin-Williams, Kasi Nelson from Silverstar Telecom, Echo Marshall from Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Vance Nielsen from HUB International and Brandon Daw from Aflac.