UA Announces Winners of Culverhouse Leadership Diversity Competition

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Teams from Alabama State University, Tuskegee University and Rhodes College took home the top honors in The University of Alabama’s second annual Culverhouse Leadership Diversity Competition.

The Alabama State team came in first place for their business solution and presentation for the specialty coffee maker brand Keurig. The team was awarded $5,000. Team members include Rachel Kazungu, Richmond Pierce, Menyon Goodou and Gabrielle Delaine.

Tuskegee University came in second place for their presentation on a business solution for Under Armour. The team was awarded $3,000. Team members include Kayla Lattimore, Stevens Bonhomme, Sacha Bowen and Kaitlyn Bone.

Rhodes College took home third place for their business solution for Campbell’s soup. They were awarded $2,000. Team members include Emily Rizer, Stephanie Coma, Maggie Butcher and Haley Menz.

“This experience was life-changing,” said Menyon Goodou, an Alabama State University student. “I had the chance to tour the beautiful campus of The University of Alabama, meet new like-minded peers, and learn a ton of great skills in a short amount of time. I am honored that my team was selected as the first-place winners, but we truly had some tough competition.”

Students who won individual awards include Best Presenters Maggie Butcher, Rhodes College; Mosea Miles, Xavier College; Genae McLaurin, Tuskegee University; and Kyle King, Alabama A&M. Best Q&A went to Adil Khan, Rhodes College; Evan Reynolds, Xavier University; and Richmond Pierce, Alabama State University.

Former Culverhouse graduates, business owners, faculty and corporate partners made up the 16-member judging pool. Judges from the final round of the competition were Dr. David Francko, UA’s associate provost and graduate school dean; David Ford, director of the Business Honors Program at the Culverhouse College of Commerce; and Mathew Mazhuvancheryparambath, director of sales operations, FedEx. Companies with judges in the competition included IBM, Coca Cola, FedEx, Cigna and Regions.

Nine schools made up the 14 teams that participated in the 2016 Culverhouse Leadership Diversity Competition Jan. 28-30 at The University of Alabama.

Stillman College and Tuskegee University each had three teams; Rhodes College entered two teams; and Alabama State, Alabama A&M, Rust College, Tulane, Tougalooa and Xavier each had one team representing their universities.

The annual competition is open only to a select number of students at undergraduate institutions and provides an opportunity for students to transfer classroom instruction into solving real world business problems.