Thomas College 2023 SAM team members, from left, are Addison Landon, Gwyn Perlumutter, Tanner Herrick, Grace Johnson and Daniel Brewer. Thomas College photo

WATERVILLE — Thomas College students won top awards at the Society for the Advancement of Management International Business Conference, held March 16-18 in Nashville.

The team placed first for the written case study competition, third place in the knowledge bowl, third place in the case study presentation competition, and third place in the overall competition. Additionally, Dmitry Hodsdon placed second in the virtual business pitch competition, and Daniel Brewer placed third overall in the individual competition.

They were coached by Thomas College professors Dr. Dan Leland and Dr. Rick Saucier, according to a news release from MacKenzie Young, director of marketing and communications at the college.

This annual series of competitions, reaching back more than 40 years, is organized by the Society for Advancement of Management, the oldest management organization in the country, and provides an opportunity for students to showcase existing skills and further develop fundamental skills for business success. College students from across the globe compete each year.

The full Thomas College team included Daniel Brewer of Casco; Gwyn Perlmutter of Springfield, Massachusetts; Grace Johnson of Houlton; Tanner Herrick of Norway; Dmitry Hodsdon of Belfast; and Addison Landon of Bangor. They competed in categories consisting of a case study presentation, a written case study, an extemporaneous speech, a business pitch and a knowledge bowl.

“The results of the competition speak to the Thomas College student team’s poise, confidence, and especially their preparation. Their recognition in a national setting demonstrates the quality of education they are receiving at Thomas College. Our students can compete with anyone, anywhere,” said Saucier, competition advisor.

This is the sixth year in a row that Thomas College students have placed in the SAM competition.

“I’m excited because we succeeded so much as a small school. Many of our competitors were massive universities and came with teams upward of twenty students. Knowing that our team of five was able to beat such intimidating opponents is amazing,” said Landon.

“Our team has worked really hard over the past month to prepare for the competition, and we worked especially hard on the written case study. To see our hard work pay off with a first place finish in the written case is absolutely amazing,” said Johnson.

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