EWC Three-Peats at UW-Led Wyoming Business Ethics Case Competition

A team from Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) recently won the fourth annual Wyoming Business Ethics Case Competition hosted by the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program under the direction of the Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics at the University of Wyoming College of Business.

Three Wyoming community college teams traveled to UW to compete April 5. This was the third straight year an EWC team won first place.

EWC team members were students Nikoleta Tatar, Ana Djurovic and Weston Klatt. The team was advised by EWC faculty member Ellen Creagar, a professor of business law and social sciences.

“We had tremendous support from EWC and the greater Torrington community. Those great vibes were with us throughout our time in Laramie,” Creagar says. “The event itself is outstanding -- professional and yet friendly. The Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics team is so organized and welcoming. They’re fantastic hosts. It’s really a great event in every way.

“Ultimately, it was such an honor and delight to coach Ana, Weston and Nikoleta. They worked hard all semester, tirelessly the month before the competition, meeting every day and coming to sessions prepared,” Creagar continues. “They were flexible and bold, eager and committed. It doesn’t get any better than that as an educator.”

The goal of the event is to provide student teams a space to practice and hone their business ethics skills. Judges for this year’s competition were UW Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative alumni Ellie Keeler, Payson Birkeland, Tucker Norman and Hayden Hassinger.

“Student competitors in the competition are challenged with identifying a comprehensive solution to a real-world, contemporary business ethics problem -- not a simple task,” says Chase Thiel, the Bill Daniels Chair of Business Ethics at UW. “We hope that, in addition to navigational skills, the student competitors take with them a better understanding of how complex and common ethical issues are in the workplace, as well as a greater resolve to live to a high ethical standard. I believe that this year’s competitors met these aims, especially this year’s winners. They are an exemplary team.”

Members of the EWC team each will receive $300, and a $500 faculty adviser stipend, intended for use by Creagar, will go to EWC to help cover costs of the course.

“It was an amazing experience, and it showed us what the real-life business world looks like,” Djurovic says. “I would recommend it to everyone who is majoring in business.”

“The opportunity to attend the business ethics competition at the University of Wyoming is an irreplaceable experience that provides each student with exceptional knowledge and practice, as well as valuable friendships,” Tatar says. “Most importantly, it equips us to walk into the business world ready to strive toward ethical goals and values.”

“It was a great learning experience, for sure, and made me really step out of my comfort zone,” Klatt adds. “Having a great team of Ellen, Nikoleta and Ana made stepping out of that comfort zone easy and fun.”

Second-place winners, who each will receive $200, were Brooklyn Bennett, Kaydence Geist, Cree Jones and Broady Casagrande -- all students attending Casper College. The team was advised by Casper College faculty member Joseph Meeks, an instructor of business.

Third-place winners, who each will receive $100, were Mitchell Johnson, Skylar Bang, Taya Piquiet and Ana Claudia Messias Bernardo, all students at Central Wyoming College (CWC). The team was advised by CWC faculty member Tamara Forbis, an assistant professor of business.

Community college teams wishing to learn more about the Wyoming Business Ethics Case Competition can email Josie Voight, UW College of Business project coordinator, at voight@uwyo.edu.