Manchester students win top spots in national sales competition

Six Manchester University students placed in the top 10 of the “Elevate Your Pitch” national sales competition sponsored by the Florida Press Association.

Manchester’s Jakob Armstrong placed first overall, Lainey Shock placed second and Brayden Sayre placed fourth. Other students who placed in the top 10 were Edna Eben Ebai (sixth), Ethan Erb (ninth) and Justin Major (10th).

The top four students in the competition overall won cash awards, an all-inclusive trip to the Florida Media Conference in Ponte Verde, Fla., and the opportunity to participate there in a sales panel and the Young Professionals Roundtable. 

The winning MU students are all in Beth Driscoll’s Introduction to Professional Sales course. She is an assistant professor of marketing and management.

“There is no script, they have to use their prep work and conversation skills to go through the presentation,” Driscoll said. “Role plays like this are excellent ways for sales students to grow in their skill set. Plus the students have the opportunity to select a paid media sales internship which is a great asset as well.”

The two-round competition involved first filming and submitting a video of the student pitching themselves as an executive from a media company in their state. The students chosen to move on to the second round received sales scenarios and had “client follow-up meetings” via Zoom.

This is the first year Driscoll has incorporated a media sales competition into the course. In the past, professional sales students have participated in other team and individual sales competitions and placed respectably, but this was the first year Manchester students have won.

Driscoll and MU students who placed in the top four have been invited to the media conference in Florida this August. 

For the media

Professor Driscoll is on the faculty of the Gilbert College of Business at Manchester. Her bio and contact information can be found here.

Cutline information for group photo: From left, they are Brayden Sayre, Edna Eben Ebai, Jakob Armstrong, Justin Major and Lainey Shock. Ethan Erb is not pictured. His portrait is here.

More about the Gilbert College of Business

Chloe Leckrone, a communications and media relations academic intern, wrote this press release.

Manchester University, with campuses in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., provides vibrant and transformative student experiences. Learn more at www.manchester.edu/about-manchester.

Our mission: Manchester University respects the infinite worth of every individual and graduates persons of ability and conviction who draw upon their education and faith to lead principled, productive, and compassionate lives that improve the human condition.

May 2022