K-State students showcase sales skills at National Strategic Selling Institute competition
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024
MANHATTAN — Kansas State University business students had the opportunity to demonstrate their sales skills at the Spring 2024 Huhtamaki Sales Competition hosted by K-State's National Strategic Selling Institute in early February.
For the competition, 27 students enrolled in either the certificate or major in professional strategic selling competed in two rounds of role-play events. During the first round, students met with Huhtamaki's director of packaging to build rapport, discover needs and schedule a meeting with the vice president of Danone, a food company. In the second round, students presented business proposals that incorporated Huhtamaki's food packaging solutions and addressed any concerns to close the deal with Danone's vice president.
The top three students from the sales competition each received a $500 merit award for demonstrating sales skills in the mock environment. The merit award fund was set up to help deserving students finance their college education and establish an endowment for sales student scholarships.
The following students finished top three in the competition: Hunter Hartner, senior in professional strategic selling, Belleville; Anders Runyan, junior in professional strategic selling, Weatherby Lake, Missouri; and Alyssa Ansay,junior in professional strategic selling, Frisco, Texas.
"We continue to be impressed with how prepared and capable the K-State students are in understanding the sales process, communicating value and navigating objections," said Ann O'Hara, president of Huhtamaki North America. "Congratulations to all participants, and especially the winners who demonstrated professionalism on par with some of our veterans of sales."
The National Strategic Selling Institute in the College of Business Administration has been named one of the top sales programs in the country for 12 straight years by the Sales Education Foundation. In the fall of 2018, Kansas State became just the 19thuniversity in the U.S. to offer a major in professional strategic selling. Students can also earn a certificate in professional strategic selling, which is open to all majors at the university. The professional strategic selling program introduces students to the fundamentals of sales, and the innovative curriculum and sales labs allow students to develop the skills they need to be successful.
For more information about the National Strategic Selling Institute, please contact kstatesalesprogram@k-state.edu.
