Ranking high in competitions, UW-Whitewater’s American Marketing Association (AMA) helps give students a real-world experience of how business operates. This was put to the test as several students in AMA participated in the Outbound Sales Competition (OSC), a competition that put students’ sales skills to the test as they simulated real-world sales deals.
AMA had 11 finalists in the OSC competition last semester, the competition held over Webex tested participants’ skills with sales. Students’ skills were judged over the span of two rounds.
“Students were given a scenario where they’ve got to make a simulated phone call, and it’s two rounds,” AMA Sales Corp Advisor Dave Martin said. “The American Marketing Association’s goal is to get the students as much real-world practical experience in the various facets of marketing as we can.”
Of the students who participated in the competition, they found it to be exciting and helpful in preparing for post-college careers.
“I thought it was super exciting because it felt like a real-world scenario,” said Lauryn Seidel, AMA Vice President of Sales Competitions. “I was really proud of my performance.”
While OSC is just one of the competitions AMA participates in, the association does much more for its members on campus.
The AMA chapter at Whitewater is popular amongst business students, with over 120 members. The group helps students with networking, finding opportunities and making lifelong connections.
“The friendships I’ve made have been super genuine, and I know I can lean on any of them at any time,” said Seidel.
With travel opportunities from Las Vegas to Germany and the Netherlands, students can develop skills that will serve them well as they prepare for the future.
“One of the things we pride ourselves on at AMA is developing our members,” AMA Co-President Rafa Alvarez-Reyes said.
With one of AMA’s big selling points being opportunities to compete and travel, students love the challenge and the opportunity to see new places. It’s not uncommon for this group to travel once a month.
With 30 corporate sponsors that come to events, AMA never has a dull moment.
“I just love the people in AMA. I’ve met lifelong friends just from being in AMA and it’s great for networking,” Alvarez-Reyes said.
Those friends and networking chances can give students opportunities far and wide when AMA holds conferences like they did last fall. The regional conference had over 450 registered competitors.
“I got to work with our German and Dutch students that came across and worked with them for the weekend and [got to] show them our ways of doing sales,” Seidel said.
From Whitewater to Europe, the AMA chapter gives students an experience that others may not get the chance to have, with many students being a part of it for the rest of their college experience the moment they join.
