K-State students show off sales skills at Edward Jones competition

K-State students competed for prizes and showcased their sales skills at the Spring 2025 Edward Jones Sales Competition hosted by the National Strategic Selling Institute. Top row, from left: Halle Hartner, Hailey Rozell and Zoey Stec. Bottom row, from left: Regan Barr, Claire Gassel and Lexie Pattrin. | Download this photo.

By Ruthie Gergeni
K-State College of Business Administration

Thursday, March 13, 2025

 

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University's National Strategic Selling Institute gave students an opportunity to demonstrate the skills they've learned in the classroom at the Spring 2025 Edward Jones Sales Competition.

Students from K-State's College of Business Administration and College of Health and Human Sciences competed in one round of role-play events with 38 competitors. In the scenario, students acted as Edward Jones financial advisors meeting with fictitious prospects in an initial needs-discovery sales call.

This sales competition allows students to be awarded for their performance and demonstration of sales skills in a mock environment. Through the Doug E. Hill/Edward Jones Scholarship Fund, $500 student merit awards were given to the winner and top first-time competitor, or newcomer, in each room.

The following students finished in the top three in the competition: Halle Hartner, senior in professional strategic selling, Belleville; Hailey Rozell, senior in professional strategic selling and marketing, Round Rock, TX; and Zoey Stec, senior in personal financial planning and professional strategic selling, Atchison.

The following students received the top newcomer awards in the competition: Regan Barr, senior in marketing and entrepreneurship, Olathe; Claire Gassel, senior in marketing and professional strategic selling, Overland Park; Lexie Pattrin, sophomore in business and professional strategic selling, St. Louis, Missouri.

"I want to sincerely thank the Edward Jones team for their unwavering support in making this competition another tremendous success. Their generosity, through both mentorship and financial support, means the world to our program. Their involvement gives our students the chance to demonstrate their skills in a real-world environment while also helping shape the next generation of leaders in sales. We are deeply grateful for their ongoing partnership," said Dawn Deeter, Director of the NSSI.

The National Strategic Selling Institute is housed in the College of Business Administration, which has been named one of the top sales programs in the country for twelve straight years by the Sales Education Foundation. In the fall of 2018, Kansas State became just the 19th university 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 needed to be successful.

For more information on the National Strategic Selling Institute, please contact kstatesalesprogram@ksu.edu.

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