The Journal & Topics ran a story on Maine East student teams that won the Investment Association Valuation Challenge of the NIU Business Olympics event.
Teams from across the Chicago metropolitan area participated in the Business Olympics. Participating schools include: Barrington High School, Conant High School, Gardner South Wilmington, Mendota Township High School, Metea Valley High School, Neuqua Valley High School, Palatine High School, Yorkville High School, and Elgin Community College. All total, 60 students were present and competed. There were 32 different presentations/competitions over five different categories (Big Pitch, Lucro Island Budgeting, Million Dollar Marketing, Mobile App, and Valuation Challenge.) A total of 22 judges — including alumni, faculty, and current NIU Business students – evaluated the competitors’ work. Congratulations to all the participating and winning teams!
Below is the Journal & Topics write up on the winning Maine East teams:
The Maine East Investments Club (Foundations Club) team won the Northern Illinois University Investment Association Valuation Challenge on Saturday, April 6. The team comprised of sophomores Merlin Josin, Inara Matani, Michael Abregana and James Gold earned the overall title by scoring the highest point total ever at the competition with their presentation of a hypothetical merger between two healthcare corporations.
The second place prize went to the other Maine East group that included sophomore Abaan Ansari, freshman Prem Shah and freshman Alex Tomy. Each of the second place winners won $100.
This was the first time ever that one school earned the top two spots in any competition. The competition is billed as a way for students to learn skills relevant to all professions and educational tracks; develop teamwork, leadership and communication skills; learn about risk, diversification, company analysis, industry analysis and investing; develop and apply critical thinking and reading skills; and enhance college and scholarship applications.
Maine East alum Jinal Shah used his industry expertise to help the students prepare a professional paper and presentation that earned the teams first and second place at the competition.
The competition consisted of Chicagoland high schools in addition to community college teams. Each of the first place winners won $200.
Posted by Michelle De Jean, director of marketing, NIU College of Business
