A group of 42 Montana State University students from the American Marketing Association chapter attended the AMA International Collegiate Conference in Chicago from March 12 to 14, achieving several top placements among more than 1,900 student participants. The MSU delegation set a record for the university with their attendance and participation in 18 different events at the conference.
The event provided an opportunity for MSU students to network and compete against peers from over 150 universities nationwide. This year, the chapter was placed in the Platinum Circle and served as a co-host due to its previous achievement as International Chapter of the Year. As a result, it was not eligible for ranking this year but will be again at next year’s conference in New Orleans.
MSU teams achieved second place in both the Intercollegiate Case Competition—presenting their plan to Major League Baseball—and the Marketing Strategy Competition. Kinley Walters took third place in Undergraduate Research with work on branding during politically polarized times. The chapter’s website team also earned third place out of 350 chapters worldwide, while two members were finalists in the Perfect Pitch Competition.
Eric Van Steenburg, MSU professor and faculty adviser for the AMA chapter, said: “The impressive outcomes are a direct result of the chapter’s leadership. This is the 10th year MSU has had an AMA chapter, and I couldn’t be more proud.”
Montana State University leads research funding efforts within Montana with annual expenditures exceeding $288 million according to its official website. The university contributes to communities through volunteer efforts, outreach programs, and research aimed at improving lives and environmental conditions according to its official website. It ranks among the top five percent of global universities per rankings by Center for World University Rankings according to its official website.
The university enrolls about 17,165 students evenly split between residents and nonresidents according to its official website, operates as Montana’s land-grant institution focusing on research and community service according to its official website, and extends influence throughout Montana and beyond according to its official website. Located in Bozeman amid vast wilderness areas offering outdoor recreation opportunities, Montana State provides extensive academic programs while leading state research initiatives according to its official website.
The AMA chapter is led by President Jack Hays along with an elected executive board overseeing various aspects such as marketing, fundraising, membership engagement, finance management, social impact initiatives, consulting projects and communications.