Smith Students Win International Case Competition

A team of University of Maryland undergraduates took first place at an international competition to provide consulting on social responsibility.

The Milgard Invitational Case Competition is hosted by the University of Washington-Tacoma each year as an invitation-only opportunity for students from universities around the world to explore the issues of corporate responsibility and citizenship that managers of companies regularly face.

Teams have two weeks to study the case brief, research the company, analyze management and financial decisions, and prepare slides for a presentation and Q&A with a panel of judges. This year's case brief focused on the aviation industry, comparing the financials and sustainability practices of Airbus, Boeing and Embraer. Twenty-one student teams participated.

The Maryland team of juniors Marvi Shroff, Eileen Chen, Meilin Yuan and Jiayi Wang recommended investing in Airbus based on its financial stability and sustainability initiatives. Judges told the group that they were impressed by the depth of its research and analysis, as well as its professionalism and presentation skills.

“It was an incredible experience gaining hands-on expertise in conducting in-depth investment research and delivering a presentation of this caliber,” said Wang.

The team of juniors was selected to represent the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Washington by first competing in the Smith Invitational Case Competition, hosted by the Center for Social Value Creation in partnership with Social Impact at Smith. This digital competition focused on sustainable investment through electric vehicle manufacturers.

“It’s incredibly exciting to witness our students' growth and expertise in social responsibility. Their commitment to innovation and sustainable business practices is truly inspiring. Smith is honored to have produced two of the last four champions in this prestigious case competition, showcasing the depth of our programs and the talent of our students,” said Nima Farshchi, executive director of Social Impact at Smith and the Center for Social Value Creation.