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Most graduate students aim to one day take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world. This year, CSUN MBA students took the next step in preparing for that world by capturing top honors in a national competition hosted by the Small Business Institute.

“This…was the second year the MBA program participated in this competition, and we have gathered first-place awards each year we’ve competed,” said marketing professor Deborah Cours, director of CSUN’s MBA program. “These awards are a testament to the quality of work by our students and faculty, and an honor for our MBA Consulting Program.”

Under the guidance of a faculty member, student projects focus on critical aspects of business development, such as market feasibility/business plans‚ marketing plans‚ new venture start–ups and new product introduction plans.

Taking first place in the Graduate Feasibility/Business Plan category for their client WatAir, a developer, manufacturer and distributor of atmospheric water generation technology, were Cal State Northridge students Jeremy King, Namdar Akrami, Robert Anton, Rohit Jain and Vanessa Walker, led by their faculty advisor, professor Lois Shelton.

Another CSUN MBA team took home third-place prize in the Graduate Specialized category. The client, Bruce Sandzimier of Sorrells Pickard Gourmet Peanut Butter, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with the award-winning team.

“Any success we achieve as a company will be (due) in no small part to the collaborative efforts of the CSUN MBA students we’ve worked with, and the excellent MBA program CSUN administers,” he said.

For more: CSUN MBA Students Receive Top Honors From the Small Business Institute [CSUN Newsroom]

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