K-State business students shine at regional case competition

A team of K-State business students won second place at the Tenaska Business Challenge. From left: Grayson Hunsberger, Katie Zachgo, Noah Biswell and Isaac West. | Download this photo.

By Ruthie Gergeni
College of Business Administration

Thursday, March 20, 2025

MANHATTAN — A team of undergraduate students from Kansas State University's College of Business Administration took second place at the 2025 Tenaska Business Challenge, a regional competition hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln that challenges students to solve real problems through interdisciplinary solutions.

Tenaska, a large U.S. private energy company, sponsored the competition and developed the case. This year, 21 teams from across the region participated in the challenge, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Kansas and Iowa State University. Students had only two days to devise a strategy to scale up the AI-capable data center operations of a cloud technology company.

Members of the K-State team included Grayson Hunsberger, junior in finance, Andover; Noah Biswell, junior in management information systems, Olathe; Isaac West, senior in organizational management, Overland Park; and Katie Zachgo, senior in marketing and professional strategic selling, Wamego.

"The Tenaska Business Challenge pushed me beyond my limits, testing both my problem-solving skills and creativity in ways I hadn't anticipated," Biswell said. "One of the biggest takeaways was realizing just how much further I can go in thinking outside the box."

Representing a diverse range of business disciplines, the team successfully tackled the complex business case, demonstrating critical thinking, collaboration and innovative problem solving.

The Wildcats' proposed solution balanced the practicality of addressing the current needs of the company using available solutions with a commitment to reliability and sustainability while laying the groundwork for future expansion and market domination.

"The Tenaska Business Challenge was a highly challenging event, but I’m thankful for my teammates for their support," Zachgo said. "I would encourage any student who likes to academically and mentally challenge themselves to consider competing in a case competition. It made me come to realize and appreciate the depth of my own creativity and critical thinking skills."

Mira Bilgili, associate professor of management, served as the team's faculty advisor and offered mentorship and guidance to the team in preparation for the competition. Holly Loncarich, assistant professor of management, accompanied the team to Lincoln and offered on-site support throughout the event.

"The team's outstanding performance placed them among the top competitors in this prestigious event, underscoring the strength of K-State's business programs," Bilgili said. "This achievement highlights not only their technical and strategic skills but also their ability to excel under pressure in a highly competitive environment. We are excited to see these bright students' future impact and accomplishments within and beyond our university."

Learn more about the College of Business Administration and the experiential learning opportunities it offers.

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