By Jeff Murphy,
April 11, 2024
From left, sales team students from the Harmon College of Business and Professional
Studies, Andrew Wania, Sydney Beck, Molly Rickert, and Julianna Sonnik ,represented
the University of Central Missouri at a national competition at the University of
Kansas Lawrence.
WARRENSBURG, MO - Following up first-place finishes the past two years, the University
of Central Missouri sales team in the Harmon College of Business and Professional
Studies was edged out by the University of Georgia and took second place in the King’s Hawaiian Sales Competition. This competitive event was hosted by the University of Kansas School of Business
April 5-6.
The competition included 52 students comprising 13 teams from across the nation. UCM
was represented by the team of Julianna Sonnik, a senior marketing major from Sedalia,
Missouri; Sydney Beck, a junior entrepreneurship major from Overland Park, Kansas;
Molly Rickert, a junior marketing major from Shawnee, Kansas; and Andrew Wania, a
junior marketing major from Wentzville, Missouri.
The team was awarded $3,000 for finishing second overall. In addition, Julianna Sonnik
advanced to the finals in the individual speed selling competition. Moreover, the
team was awarded $100 for having one of the best social media posts for Grillo’s Pickles,
which was part of the competition. The team was coached by Charles Schwepker, Randall
and Kelly Harbert Marketing Professor in the Harmon College of Business and Professional
Studies.
Other higher education institutions that were represented in the competition were:
Indiana State University, Marshall University, Texas Tech University, University of
Arizona, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, University of Minnesota, University
of Missouri, University of Nebraska, University of North Dakota, and the University
of Wyoming.
This annual competition sponsored by King’s Hawaiian is open to all universities.
Participation includes four undergraduate students and one sales coach from each university.