More than 70 high school students from across Manitoba were in Brandon this week to compete in the 2025 Manitoba Business Case Competition, hosted by the Peters School of Business at Assiniboine College. The event, which has become an annual occurrence, is sponsored by Fusion Credit Union and ACEM (Applied Commerce Educators of Manitoba).
"We want high school students to see what learning at Assiniboine is really like hands-on, practical, and focused on real-world skills," said Terry Burgess, Dean of the Peters School of Business. "This event is a great way to help students take the next step toward their goals."
The festivities kicked off Wednesday evening with a welcome event hosted by Assiniboine. Students were able to hear from keynote speaker, Whitney Sharkey, a partner with Accent CPA, as well as participate in a fun round of trivia to meet, network and prepare for the competition that followed on Thursday.
"Fusion is excited to continue our partnership with Assiniboine College for this incredible event," says Kyle Enns, Branch Manager at Fusion Credit Union. "I have participated as a judge for 6 years and counting and it is truly amazing to see what plans these bright minds can put together in a short period of time. It really showcases the efforts that the teachers put into these programs in their schools."
Competitors at the event received a $1,500 tuition credit to study Business Administration with the Peters School of Business, with the top three in each division (entrepreneurship, accounting, marketing and personal finance) receiving an additional $2,500 tuition credit.
The event had teams of three analyzing and working on their business case or project, then presenting their work to a panel of judges made up of business and industry representatives in the afternoon. Teams were judged on how well they understood the problem, the creativity of their solutions, and how clearly they explained their ideas. The process provides real-world feedback to problems faced by business, with the students having the opportunity to connect with industry leaders in a professional environment.
"Competitions like this give students early exposure to the Peters School of Business, as well as a connection to the educational opportunities available here at Assiniboine," said Geoff Milne, Academic Chair at the Peters School of Business. "This event is about working as a team, solving problems, thinking on your feet, and communicating ideas that will lead to potential solutions. The competition helps students start thinking about what a career in business might entail".
The college's two-year Business Administration diploma is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and offers specialization in accounting, financial services, human resource management and marketing. In recent years, the college has also partnered with Cape Breton University to deliver their Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Community Economic Development on campus in Brandon.
