Vanier College is pleased to announce that after a gruelling 3-day competition at the 20th Scotiabank Vanier College National Marketing Case Competition, the Gold Award went to Seneca College from Ontario. Congratulations to the Seneca Team composed of students Dominic Lorenzoni, Alexia Afriyie, Tyson Trieu and Marija Kolefski with their Coaches Stefan Kanitz, Domenic Gasparro and Yasmine Shateri. "This has been so special. We just wanted to do well to honour all our hard work. Our team really came together and had great chemistry," said the students.
During the weekend event, twenty-three teams of marketing students from colleges across Canada had three hours to analyze a real marketing case and present viable marketing solutions before a panel of expert judges. Long-time judge Dave Bussière, Associate Professor, Marketing, Odette School of Business, University of Windsor said, "I think that I have judged the Vanier case competition 15 times -- starting in the second year. I come back every year because it is the single competition that has a national and bilingual feel. It gives students from the West, the Atlantic provinces, Québec and Ontario the chance to interact and really compete. The students are awesome and well-coached! The experience is exhilarating!"
At a gala dinner held on March 1 where the finalists were announced, other awards also recognized coaches and students. This year, the Builders Award went to the original creators of the Vanier Case Competition, David Moscovitz who worked on the competition until he retired from Vanier five years ago, and George Dracopoulos who has devoted 20 years to the event. Their commitment and engagement have made the competition unique and kept the competition going all these years.
As well, the Julia Ferreira Public Speaking Excellence Awards, named in memory of a Vanier graduate and former case competition participant, was awarded to the three best public speakers of the competition, chosen from each division: Mimi Nguyen, from St Clair College, Katelyn Wynott from Cambrian College and Mason Wright from Durham College.
"The Scotiabank Vanier College National Marketing Case Competition is a wonderful showcase of our students' abilities and commitment. Indeed, it is deeply inspiring and promising to see the quality of the next generation of business leaders spotlighted here, thanks to Scotiabank, the principal sponsor of this event, and its collaboration with Vanier College," said Benoit Morin, Director General of Vanier College.
"Scotiabank is proud to support this remarkable platform for bright young minds. This competition reflects Scotiabank's core values of integrity, inclusion and accountability, and we never cease to be impressed by the students' work ethic, level of preparation, passion and desire to succeed - it is always very inspiring event!'' said Paul Yannouris, Regional Director, Small Business Development (Quebec and Eastern Ontario) Scotiabank.
George Dracopoulos, the lead organizer of the Competition, was thrilled with this year's event. "It's been 20 years and quite the accomplishment. More than 50 colleges and cegeps from every single province and the Yukon, and 1 500 to 2 000 students have participated and benefited from presenting, meeting business leaders and judges as well as students and coaches from across Canada. This experience will remain with them for a lifetime."
Results
Finals
- Seneca College, Gold
- Students: Dominic Lorenzoni, Alexia Afriyie, Tyson Trieu and Marija Kolefski
- Coaches: Stefan Kanitz, Domenic Gasparro and Yasmine Shateri
- Fanshawe College, Silver
- Students: Elise Carlson, Joshua Millard, Zack Lariviere, and Jaedyn Laanstra
- Coaches: Stacey Swartz and Liz Gray
- St Clair College, Bronze
- Students: Mimi Nguyen, Nate Schincariol, Benjamin Pare and Aziz Aziz
- Coaches: Justina Ciarlariello and David Garant
- Niagara College
- Algonquin College
- Durham College
Divisions
- Okanagan College, third place, division 1
- Medicine Hat College, fourth place, division 1
- Vanier College, third place, division 2
- Cégep Drummondville, fourth place, division 2
- SAIT, third place, division 3
- Sheridan College, fourth place, division 3
