November 1, 2023
National Strategic Selling Institute hosts fall 2023 Edward Jones Sales Competition
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Top row from left: Alyssa Ansay, Francesca Duntz and Serenity Holmes. Bottom row from left: Blaine Kramer, Grant Michaelsen and Paige Talken. |
The National Strategic Selling Institute at Kansas State University hosted the fall 2023 Edward Jones Sales Competition on Oct. 13.
Students from the College of Business Administration and College of Health and Human Sciences competed in the sales competition consisting of one round of role-play events with 18 student competitors. In the scenario, students acted as Edward Jones financial advisors meeting with a fictitious prospect in an initial needs discovery sales call.
This sales competition allows the opportunity for students to be awarded student merit awards for their performance and demonstration of sales skills in a mock environment. The top six students from the sales competition received a $500 student merit award through the Doug E. Hill/Edward Jones Scholarship Fund. This fund was established to provide financial assistance to students properly enrolled in the College of Business Administration at Kansas State University.
The following students finished top six in the competition: Blaine Kramer, senior in professional strategic selling, Atchison; Paige Talken, senior in marketing and professional strategic selling, Lenexa; Francesca Duntz, junior in professional strategic selling, Overland Park; Serenity Holmes, senior in professional strategic selling and Spanish, and Grant Michaelsen, freshman in marketing and professional strategic selling, both from Kansas City, Missouri; and Alyssa Ansay, junior in professional strategic selling, Frisco, Texas.
"We are humbled to be able to offer scholarships to well-deserving, hard-working students," said D.C. Hackerott, a financial advisor at Edward Jones. "After the competition, many of our judges commented on the quality and poise demonstrated in this tough competition. It's hard to choose a 'winner' when they are all exceptional — so we chose six. Congrats to all of the students who participated for their willingness to leave their comfort zones and seek to improve their skills. We admire you."
The National Strategic Selling Institute is housed in the College of Business Administration. It has been named one of the top sales programs in the country for 12 straight years by the Sales Education Foundation. In fall 2018, K-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@k-state.edu.