Assiniboine awards more than $55,000 to high school business case competitors

Assiniboine Community College has awarded a $1,000 scholarship to 57 high school students taking part in the third annual 2019 Manitoba High School Case Competition this week in Brandon.

The awards were announced yesterday evening as students from 10 schools across Western Manitoba and Saskatchewan kicked off the competition at the college’s North Hill campus with a welcoming dinner. The competition will take place today at Brandon University.

“Hands-on, practical activities such as this case competition allow students to make meaningful connections to career opportunities in business and consider their futures,” said Bobbie Robertson, dean of business at Assiniboine.

“Assiniboine offers a well-rounded suite of business programs that prepare graduates to work in a number of fields and so we are pleased to partner with the event again this year while providing pathways in education for these students to consider.”

Kyle Prevost, a business and social studies teacher at Birtle Collegiate who organizes the competition, said the scholarships would help students get a college diploma and a better job.

“Students, especially from rural areas, can face obstacles to obtaining a post-secondary education. Assiniboine’s generous financial support will encourage tomorrow’s business leaders to get the solid grounding they need to build their careers. This could make all the difference in the world for some students,” said Prevost.

“Assiniboine’s approach of ‘learn by doing’ offers students the opportunity to master their skills and get out into the world sooner rather than later. The business diploma they earn will provide them with many viable options to start careers that are rewarding, both psychologically and financially,” he added.

A case competition is an event where teams of three receive a case study – a scenario or specific set of circumstances – that is to be completed in a limited period of time. Teams must identify the most prominent issues presented in the case study and develop a customized strategy to solve these issues and achieve the stated goals. At the end of the time period, competitors present their recommendation to a board of judges. Competitors are judged on their ability to identify the key issues, present creative solutions and communicate effectively.

Assiniboine offers a two-year Business Administration program with specializations in accounting, financial services, human resource management and marketing. Earlier this year, the college announced several new advanced diplomas in business, including accounting, finance, human resource management, Indigenous financial management, and marketing.

Photo: Students in last year’s Manitoba High School Case Competition confer on the best solution for a business case.