Smith Undergrads Participate in CIBER Case Competition

Four University of Maryland undergraduates once again represented the Robert H. Smith School of Business in an impressive – and winning – manner last week when they traveled to the University of Connecticut to compete in the 2017 CIBER Case Competition. The multi-day event combines students representing universities from around the world, placing them into teams of four to compete in analyzing and presenting an international business case to judges. Each four-student team is comprised of one student from an international business school and three students from different U.S. schools.

Lila Lin, an accounting and information systems double major, said this about her experience: “Even though I have studied abroad and participated in other case competitions before, CIBER was a whole new experience. I met people from California to Florida and even Italy, who shared their culture and experiences with me. It is instances like these that make the fire inside burn brighter - when strangers from diverse backgrounds come together to support and teach one another so that we all can be the best that we can be. Sleep might be lost, pimples may appear, but those are temporary. The experiences and relationships that you gain from this event are permanent and lasting! I recommend this experience 11 out of 10 to anyone that is considering it!”

Ankit Sheth, a finance major with a minor in human development, competed with a team that placed third overall. He said, “It was a great experience. I worked on a team with students from around the country and actually felt that I could make a real impact. Our case was relevant and forced us to think about causes bigger than ourselves!” He earned the “Best Presenter” award – as did the Smith School’s graduate Jessica Ting in last year’s competition.

Isaac Lerman, an accounting and finance double major, was grateful for the opportunity, adding, “The CIBER Case Competition was definitely a highlight of my academic career at Smith because it gave me the opportunity to network with exceptionally talented students, professors and professionals, while gaining insight into how to approach real-world problems and apply practical solutions.”

Derek Xiao, a finance and computer science double major, was presented with the “Best Question & Answer” award.

Zeinab Karake, clinical professor of decision, operations and information technologies, once again served as the team’s advisor and accompanied them to Storrs, Conn., for the competition.

This case competition was the first of many that Victor Mullins, associate dean of the Smith undergraduate program, will support during the academic year. He says he is always eager to support and to encourage students to engage with case competitions on campus and around the country. He has said that the students who are involved are always positive representatives our business program and always represent “the best of our best.”

For more information about the undergraduate program at Smith, visit: www.rhsmith.umd.edu/undergrad.

Sponsoring the students’ participation in this event for the sixth year in a row, was the Smith School’s Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). The mission of CIBER is to promote U.S. capacity for international understanding and economic enterprise and the ability of U.S. business to prosper in an international economy.

- Claudia Donnelly, Smith Undergraduate Program