ABC invites undergraduate students to enter an annual contest for the Student Competition Award by submitting a written response to a case scenario. The winning entries will receive a plaque at the annual ABC conference. The 1st place winner will receive $300; the 2nd and 3rd place winners will also be recognized with a monetary award. The winning student's instructor will be announced at the annual conference. The Student Competition Committee is responsible for the Student Competition Award.
The Student Competition Award is sponsored by Communication Partners and Barbara Shwom.
2024 Case Call
Read the Case Call - Submission Deadline November 27, 2023 (downloadable pdf)
Student Competition Submission
Submission deadline - May, 2024 (tentative) with instructor submission (log in required) to this ABC Student Competition 2024 Competition submission site (Link pending.) Instructor should remove from the student's contest entry the student's name and university.
Criteria
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:
1. Exhibit a clear understanding of the audience, use an appropriate tone and style, and establish
the desired relationship.
2. 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.
3. Be well-organized and easy to follow, with smooth transitions and headings/bullets/numbered
items (if appropriate.)
4. Demonstrate superior mastery of vocabulary and superior facility with conventions (i.e.,
grammar, usage, and mechanics) of standard written English.
5. Use an appropriate format and professional document design.
The submission requires:
- Student's Name
- Student's Mailing Address (Street Address, City, State/Province/Country, ZIP/Postal Code)
- Student's Email Address
- Student's University/College
- Course Number and title. (Students must be enrolled in the sponsoring member's business communication or other appropriate course at the time of entry.)
- File Upload - Upload the contest entry as PDF file. Be sure to remove all identifying information.
Notification
Winners will be notified by Student Competition Committee chair approximately 90 days prior to the conference. At that time, instructors will be asked to upload a file with a signed release from 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.
Need to Edit Submission or File?
Click for steps.
Question?
If you have a question about the Student Competition Award or submission, contact the Student Competition chair, Ashly Smith.
Previous Winners
|
Year |
Case |
Case Writer |
Student Winners |
Faculty Sponsor |
|
2023 |
Communicating with Customers and Employees: The Case of the Late Lifeguard |
Cynthia Conn and co-author Randle D. Raggio, University of Richmond | ||
|
2021, 2022 |
None |
|||
|
2020 |
Thomas Stoffer, Ferris State University |
1st place: John Boyar, University of South Carolina (click for entry) 2nd place: Taylor Wildman, Sam Houston State University (click for entry) 3rd place: Kendall Salas, University of Southern California (click for 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 |
Laura Barrett |
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 |
Andy Spackman |
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 |
|
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2017 |
Kelly Grant |
1st place: Roshni Verma, UNC at Chapel Hill (winning entry) 2nd place: Kylan Rutherford, Brigham Young University (entry) 3rd 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 |
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2016 |
Susan Luck |
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 |
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 |
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2014 |
|
Franziska Macur |
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 |
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 |
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 |
|
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2011 |
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 3rd place - |
|
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2010 |
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 |
|
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2009 |
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 |
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2008 |
Judith Biss |
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 |
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|
2007 |
Adapted from Maria Eichmans Cochran, |
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 |
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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 |
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 |
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2004 |
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 |
Deborah Valentine |
1st place: Lauren Duke, Indiana University |
Diana McKowen, Indiana University |
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2002 |
|
1st place: Anna Culhane, University of Southern California (winning response) |
Sandra Chrystal, University of Southern California |