EMU Today

YPSILANTI -- A team of graduate students from Eastern Michigan University’s College of Business—Nana Adomako, Orlando Kamaj, Alex Kivali, and team captain Banafsheh Sadeghi—excelled at a recent Minority Case Competition held in Washington, D.C. Eastern Michigan University took third place and won $2,000. Students from Howard University won first place with a $5,000 prize, and Ohio State University took second place and won $3,000.

The case competition was part of the 24th annual MBA Exclusive (MBAX) Conference hosted by Howard University’s School of Business. The conference offered students from across the country opportunities for career development, a Career Fair Exposition featuring companies such as Dell, Intel, LMI, and Citibank, and the 15th Annual Minority Case Competition, sponsored by LMI. Teams of three to four students competing in the competition were tasked with “solving a complex business case, developed by LMI,” in hopes of winning up to $11,000.

Despite having just one week to prepare, Eastern Michigan University students representing the MBA and Master of Science in Finance programs were able to place third.

“It was a great experience, where the level of competition was countrywide,” said team member Orlando Kamaj. “We experienced great hospitality from the host university, including a special career fair for the MBA participants. On top of that, it was great networking with professionals from the major US firms."

Learn more about the conference and competition on its website, mbaexclusive.com. 

The students’ travel to the event was made possible by the generosity of alumni and other donors contributing to the COB Student Organizations’ Travel Fund.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 18,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.