March 25, 2022

Students from throughout central and southeastern Pennsylvania participated in Susquehanna University’s inaugural High School Sales Competition, a collaboration between Susquehanna’s Department of Communications and Sigmund Weis School of Business that taught participants about the sales process and allowed them to showcase their selling skills in a sales call role play with business professionals and university faculty.

Katrina Hook, Elizabethtown Area High School Katrina Hook, Elizabethtown Area High School“Students who participated in our sales competition gained vital business and communication skills that will help them build their portfolios as they look ahead to their college careers and beyond,” said Michele Welliver, assistant professor of communications and professional sales program coordinator at Susquehanna University. Welliver also organized the competition and has more than a decade of professional sales experience in radio and television.

Students placing in the top 10 were:

  1. Brianna Le, Daniel Boone Area High School
  2. Vivian Vance, Lewisburg Area High School
  3. Katrina Hook, Elizabethtown Area High School
  4. Aleko Zeppos, Wyomissing Area High School
  5. Sophia Zhu, Lewisburg Area High School
  6. Heidi Pena, Danville Area High School
  7. Olivia Hockenbrock, Lewisburg Area High School
  8. Eric Zalar, Shamokin Area High School
  9. Gracie Murphy, Lewisburg Area High School
  10. Micah Campbell, Wyomissing Area High School

Students placing in the top ten earned cash awards and certificates. All competitors also received a free ticket to a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ice hockey game. Attendees and participants are also eligible to receive an additional $1,000 scholarship on top of all other financial aid should the student be accepted and choose to attend Susquehanna University.

The competition was sponsored by LB Water, Zimmerman Motors, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ice hockey team, and the PA Future Business Leaders of America.

Designed as a two-round role play, students were directed to sell a specific product – a Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins ice hockey game package designed to boost engagement among the potential buyer’s employees. Each round included a brief scenario, a particular goal, a potential close, a specific time limit and a scoring rubric. Buyers and judges were a mix of sales professionals and Susquehanna faculty and sales students. When not competing, student competitors and their guests had the opportunity to experience workshops, campus tours and other events.

Susquehanna University’s second annual High School Sales Competition is scheduled for March 13, 2023.