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RDC students compete for Deans awards

A weighty problem was pondered at Olds College last weekend — specifically, how to take a computer app from its London, Ont. base and expand it nationally to maximize revenues.

A weighty problem was pondered at Olds College last weekend — specifically, how to take a computer app from its London, Ont. base and expand it nationally to maximize revenues.

This was the case study tackled by teams of business students from 14 Alberta colleges and other post-secondary institutions, including Olds College and Red Deer College. They were participating in the eight annual Alberta Deans of Business Competition.

Each team, which consisted of four or five students — including an alternate — was assigned the case study on Friday.

They had 10 hours to analyze it and formulate a solution, with this presented to a panel of judges the following morning.

Morgan Ross, chair of the Olds College School of Business, said the case allowed those taking part to consider the various aspects of a marketing campaign: product positioning, pricing strategies and promotion.

Ultimately, a combined team from Portage College and Northern Lakes College was declared the winner, and awarded a $4,000 cash prize.

Bow Valley College claimed the second-place money of $2,500, while SAIT finished third and took home $1,500.

But the benefits for those taking part extended far beyond money, said Ross.

“It’s a really wonderful opportunity for the students,” he said, describing how they were able to network with their counterparts from other schools and also with businesses people in attendance.

“A few business cards were exchanged, I’ll tell you that much.”

The judges were industry representatives, with two from Red Deer and one each from Calgary and Edmonton.

The Alberta Deans of Business Competition moves from institution to institution, with Red Deer College playing host in 2011.

The other schools taking part this year were Grande Prairie Regional College, Keyano College, Lakeland College, Lethbridge College, MacEwan University, Medicine Hat College, NAIT and NorQuest College.

Members of the 2013 Olds College team were Carli Raines, Trevor Molzan, Cal Haddow, Theresa Bayko and Emily Byers, with their faculty adviser Kim Kennedy.

Red Deer College was represented by Chelsey Mason, Michael Nguru, Bryan Tuazon, Blaine Sincennes and Bethany Moreau, with their faculty advisers Yanelia Yabar and Merlyn Ness.

hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com