Student Competition Award

The Student Competition Award, sponsored by Communication Partners and Barbara Shwom, recognizes excellent student writing in response to a case written by an ABC member. The Student Competition Committee invites case submissions from faculty in the summer and student responses the
following spring.

Student winners receive monetary awards. The 1st place winner receives $300; the 2nd and 3rd place winners are also recognized with a monetary award. The winning student's instructor and the ABC member who wrote the winning case are announced at the ABC Annual International Conference.

See the current Call for Cases due September 19, 2025.
Please log into the website and submit your case using the form at right.

See previous winning cases and student responses below.

Case Submissions (Fall deadline)

ABC Members, do you use a fun and challenging business communication case for an assignment? Consider submitting your case to serve as the competition case for the Student Competition!

The Student Competition Committee looks for cases that ask students to showcase their ability to use the following communication skills in a relatively brief message:

Be audience-centric.
Persuade their receiver to take a course of action.
Use professional tone, vocabulary, and style.
Design a conventional, well-formatted document.

Past winning cases have asked students to do things like use evidence and analysis to make recommendations, navigate complex interpersonal contexts to send bad news, motivate a city council to provide needed resources, and more. You can see many of the past cases and winning student submissions below.

All submitted cases are blind-reviewed and rated by the Student Competition Committee members.

Student Written Response Submissions (Spring deadline)

Once the case is posted, student submissions will be accepted until a mid-May deadline. Student submitters must be sponsored by an ABC member and should have been enrolled in a business communication course taught by the sponsor during the academic year preceding the competition deadline (e.g., AY 25–26 for the 2026 Student Competition).

Submissions may be made by any Association member on behalf of a student in the member's business communication or other appropriate course.

The winning entries will:

Exhibit a clear understanding of the audience, use an appropriate tone and style, and establish the desired relationship.
Accomplish the purpose of the message by stating a clear position on the issue and supporting that position with logical points/sub-points, insightful reasons, and/or persuasive examples.
Be well-organized and easy to follow, with smooth transitions and headings/bullets/numbered items (if appropriate).
Demonstrate superior mastery of vocabulary and superior facility with conventions (i.e., grammar, usage, and mechanics) of standard written English.
Use an appropriate format and professional document design.

The submission requires:

Student's Name
Student's Email Address
Student's University/College
Sponsor's Name
Sponsor's Email Address
Sponsor's University/College
Course Number and Title. (Students must be enrolled in the sponsoring member's business communication or other appropriate course during the academic year preceding the competition deadline.)
File Upload - Upload the contest entry as PDF file. Be sure to remove all identifying information.

AI Use Statement

The ABC Student Competition Committee acknowledges that generative AI tools can be useful for developing and strengthening professional messages. To promote fair and ethical participation in the Student Competition, generative AI tools may be used only for brainstorming when developing case or student submissions for the ABC Student Competition. All competition submissions should use the author's original phrasing and composition. Remember also that ethical business communication requires citation for any ideas or content borrowed from another source, including a generative AI source.

Notification

Winners will be notified by the Student Competition Committee chair approximately 90 days before the conference. At that time, instructors will be asked to upload a file with a signed release from the student indicating: "I give permission for Association for Business Communication and Business Communication Research Foundation to use my name and document for educational or publicity purposes." Sponsors of winning entries will also be asked to submit details, including additional contact information and photographs of both the student and the faculty sponsor. Do not upload such files until requested.

Question?

If you have a question about the Student Competition Award or submission, contact the Student Competition chair, Ashly Smith.

Previous Winning Cases

Year	Case	Case Writer	Student Winners	Faculty Sponsor
2025	Serving Public Servants: Using Persuasive Communication Public Advocacy	Laura Nicole Miller, Assumption University
2024	From Microsoft to New Heights Tech: The Case of Wearable Technology in the Workplace	Rachel Dolechek, Fort Hays State University	1st Place: Addie Hileman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (view entry) 2nd Place: Kobe Wolfgram, Brigham Young University-Hawaii (view entry) 3rd Place: Nethali Padmaperuma, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (view entry)	1st Place: Dr. Kelley O'Brien, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2nd Place: Dr. Scott Springer, Brigham Young University-Hawaii 3rd Place: Dr. Jenna Haugen, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2023	Communicating with Customers and Employees: The Case of the Late Lifeguard	Cynthia Conn and co-author Randle D. Raggio, University of Richmond	1st place: Tolu Adetola, University of Pennsylvania (view entry) 2nd place: Summer Sledzieski, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (view entry) 3rd place: Angela Ge, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (view entry)	1st place: Chris Morse, University of Pennsylvania 2nd place: Michael Meredithm, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 3rd place: Jenna Haugen, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2021, 2022	None
2020	On-Call Work Stress	Thomas Stoffer, Ferris State University	1st place: John Boyar, University of South Carolina (view entry) 2nd place: Taylor Wildman, Sam Houston State University (view entry) 3rd place: Kendall Salas, University of Southern California (view entry)	1st place: Bethany Tisdale, University of South Carolina 2nd place: Dana Bible, Sam Houston State University 3rd place: Lindsey Bier, University of Southern California
2019	Quail Creations Point of Sale System	Laura Barrett University of Kansas	1st place: Daniel Hodges, University of Louisville (click for entry) 2nd place: Sara Romney, Brigham Young University (click for entry) 3rd place: Miranda Matthews, Suffolk University (click for entry)	1st place: Zachary Goldman, University of Louisville 2nd place: Marianna Richardson, Brigham Young University 3rd place: Liane Czirjak, Suffolk University
2018	Turning Point for David	Andy Spackman Brigham Young University	1st place: Kylan Rutherford, Brigham Young University (winning entry) 2nd place: Claudia Hebert, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (entry) 3rd place: Jasmyne Dias, Suffolk University (entry)	1st place: Marianna Richardson, Brigham Young University 2nd place: Jeremy Rosselot-Merritt, Universiy of Minnesota, Twin Cities 3rd place: Sarah Mellen, Suffolk University
2017	Linking In	Kelly Grant Tulane University	1^st place: Roshni Verma, UNC at Chapel Hill (winning entry) 2^nd place: Kylan Rutherford, Brigham Young University (entry) 3^rd place: Tyler Tonnesen, UNC at Chapel Hill (entry)	1st place: Michael Meredith, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2nd place: Marianna Richardson, Brigham Young University 3rd place: Michael Meredith, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2016	What Did IT Say?	Susan Luck Pfiffer University	1st place: Lauren Holcomb, Auburn University (entry) 2nd place: Kimberly Ostiller, University of Southern California (entry) 3rd place: Lee Richardson, University of Arkansas (entry)	1st place: Robyn Sexton, University of North Georgia 2nd place: Yolanta Aritz, University of Southern California 3rd place: Sara Clements, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2015	Turning Up The Heat On Wind River Farms	Lucia S. Sigmar Sam Houston State University	1st place: Audrey Wilson, Northern Kentucky University (entry) 2nd place: Katherine Shaw, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (entry) 3rd place: Taylor York, Stephen F. Austin State University (entry)	1st place: Janel Bloch, Northern Kentucky University 2nd place: Michael Meredith, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill 3rd place: Carol Wright, Stephen F. Austin State University
2014	(Please Don’t) Reply All	Franziska Macur Bethany College	1st place: Shannon Nolan, Temple University (winning entry) 2nd place: Katelyn Standley, Stephen F. Austin State University (entry) 3rd place: Joshua Maier, University of Cincinnati	1st place: Jessica Renaud, Temple University 2nd place: Carol Wright, Stephen F. Austin State University 3rd place: Elizabeth Keri, University of Cincinnati
2013	FACEbook War	Cynthia E. Conn Elon University	1st place: Nina del Valle, Temple University (winning entry) 2nd place: Alyssa Gutierrez, University of Florida 3rd place: Lacy Culpepper, Dixie State University	1st place: Jessica Renaud, Temple University 2nd place: Fiona Barnes, University of Florida 3rd place: Florence Bacabac, Dixie State University
2012	Colonnade Hotel and Resort	Amy Newman & Sherri Kimes Cornell University	1st place: Kristen Brews, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (winning entry) 2nd place: Christina Sukhu, Washington University 3rd place: Jesse Furukawa, Temple University	1st place - Michael Meredith, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill 2nd place - Barbara Cannon, Washington University 3rd place - Jessica Renaus, Temple University
2011	Southern Life Insurance: Sexual Harassment Policy	Cynthia E. Conn Texas Tech University	1st place: Andrew Burnett, University of Southern California (winning entry) 2nd place: Andrew Hess, Philadelphia Biblical University 3rd place: Suzanne Peckham, University of Tennessee at Martin	1st place - Jolanta Aritz, University of Southern California 2nd place - Gail Benchener, Philadelphia Biblical University
2010	Dawson & Engels: Request Refusal	Kathy Rentz University of Cincinnati	1st place: Tony Bloemer, Northern Kentucky University (winning entry) 2nd place: Iris Zhang, University of Florida 3rd place: Susan Hanover, Indiana University	1st place - Janel Bloch, Northern Kentucky University 2nd place - Fiona Barnes, University of Florida 3rd place - Adam Herman, Indiana University
2009	National Logistics: Request for Training	Gary L. May Clayton State University	1st place: Joshua Lindauer, West Chester University (winning entry) 2nd place: Kalyn Fox, Eastern Kentucky University (entry) 3rd place: Claire Arritola, University of Miami (entry)	1st place - Judith Scheffler, West Chester University 2nd place - Marcel Robles, Eastern Kentucky University 3rd place - Larissa Ramos and Adina Sanchez Garcia, University of Miami
2008	Corporate Downsizing	Judith Biss Stephen F. Austin State University	1st place: Nicole Thomas, University of Florida 2nd place: Sonia Camacho, Georgia State University 3rd place: Ashley Kresky, West Chester University	1st place - Fiona Barnes, University of Florida 2nd place - Jan Costello, Georgia State University 3rd place - Judith Scheffler, West Chester University
2007	Brookhaven National Lab: Communication Plan	Adapted from Maria Eichmans Cochran, Iowa State University	1st place: Julie Ryan, Iowa State University (winning entry) 2nd place: Adena Strickland, Arkansas Tech University 3rd place: Andrea Allan, Arkansas Tech University	1st place - Anish Dave, Iowa State University 2nd place - Slavica Kodish, Arkansas Tech University 3rd place - Slavica Kodish, Arkansas Tech University
2006	“Kraft a Healthy Lifestyle” Campaign to Mitigate Negative Media		1st place: Kimberly Holker, University of Florida (winning entry) 2nd place: Debra Ritter, DeVry University 3rd place: Christopher Laden, University of Florida	1st place - Fiona Barnes, University of Florida 2nd place - Barbara Hamilton, DeVry University 3rd place - Fiona Barnes, University of Florida
2005	Shoemann's In-Basket Exercise	Adapted from Dale Cyphert, University of Northern Iowa	1st place: Courtney Swartwout, Western Carolina University (winning entry) 2nd place: Adam King, Missouri Western State College 3rd place: George Moore IV, Georgia State University	1st place - Rita Noel, Western Carolina University 2nd place - Carol Roever, Missouri Western State College 3rd place - Jan Costello, Georgia State University
2004	Nike Case	Gayle Vogt, California State University, Fullerton	1st place: Adam Tindel, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill	Heidi Schultz, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2003	Custom Research Services: New HQ	Deborah Valentine Emory University	1st place: Lauren Duke, Indiana University	Diana McKowen, Indiana University
2002	Winter Storm		1st place: Anna Culhane, University of Southern California (winning response)	Sandra Chrystal, University of Southern California