A strong, collaborative team, impressive strategic insights, and an amazing presentation all contributed to a multidisciplinary UConn student team taking first place in a recent case competition at American University.

“One judge told us it was the best presentation she had seen in her 20 years of judging,’’ said Tyler Martin ’25, an economics and political science major, and part of the Husky Case Competition Club.

The championship team participated in the 31st Annual Kogod Case Competition at American, a three-month challenge that concluded in mid-February. The winning team also included Adam Skarre ’25 (mechanical engineering), Tara Sperry ’26 (marketing) Matthew Conroy ’25 (finance) and Shane Markle ’25 (finance).

The case competition was organized by Lightility, an energy company, and focused on electric-vehicle infrastructure. The challenge involved marketing, scaling strategies, and financial projections. The UConn team competed against the University of Pennsylvania, Boston University, Indiana University, Loyola University and George Washington University.

“As the faculty advisor and mentor for the club, it has been a privilege to witness their dedication firsthand,’’ said management professor Sami Ghaddar. “The credit for this victory undeniably belongs to the students, whose strategic insight and hard work truly set them apart.’’

“Our students’ victory in the junior/senior division is a testament to the quality of education and experiential learning at the UConn, showcasing the exceptional talent we nurture,’’ he said.

Varied Academic Backgrounds Proved Helpful

Martin and Markle both said they enjoyed the challenge of solving a real-world issue.

“I thoroughly enjoyed developing a strong understanding of a unique, innovative, and timely industry,’’ Martin said. “The electric-vehicle industry is constantly changing, and developing expertise in an industry rooted in sustainability was particularly interesting,’’ Martin said. “I didn’t find devoting three months to the project difficult, considering there was so much to understand and gain foundational knowledge on. Throughout the three months, our understanding of the case in its entirety shifted many times.’’

Markle agreed that the case was intriguing.

“It allowed me to learn about business beyond the classroom and delve into all the moving parts behind decision making,” Markle said. “Devoting three months to this project was time-consuming, but I don’t think I could have asked for a better team to work with, which made the process very enjoyable.”

Skarre said the team’s varied academic backgrounds, from business, engineering and liberal arts, proved valuable.

“This diversity allowed us to leverage each other’s strengths, fostering both individual creativity and collaborative synergy,’’ Skarre said. “By combining our different perspectives, we maintained a holistic approach throughout our work.’’

Sperry said the staff and students at AU were welcoming and the team had a great time networking with them along with the judges, Lightility’s directors, and other competitors.

“This experience has enhanced my communication and teamwork skills,’’ Sperry said, adding that the experience will make her a better professional.

“Our team communicated, supported, and respected each other’s ideas and opinions which contributed to our success,’’ she said.

‘I Never Gave Thought to the Other Competitors’

“I think the biggest lesson that this experience has taught me is how to get out of my comfort zone. It was my first case competition so I didn’t know what to expect, but with the support of our team, we were able to succeed,’’ Markle said. “Learning how to take that leap out of my comfort zone and try something new is a skill I will definitely be able to use in my future endeavors.”’

Martin said the case competition enhanced his leadership, time management, problem-solving and team work skills.

Although it was a great deal of work, Conroy said his team made it enjoyable.

“My favorite part was honestly spending time with my groupmates,’’ he said. “Spending three months on a project with people I enjoyed being around made the process enjoyable, even when it was stressful at times.’’

Martin said he and the team never really focused on the competition.

“To be completely honest, I never gave thought to the other competitors. To me, case competitions are about working with your team to create the best possible end-product. The reality is you cannot control how other teams perform,’’ he said. “We just made sure we showed up finalist weekend with a product we were proud of. We are beyond proud to positively represent UConn and bring the trophy home to Storrs!’’

“As thrilling as taking home this award is, it is more than just winning, it’s about showcasing UConn’s caliber on a national level and reinforcing our status as a ‘Public Ivy,’ ” Skarre said. “UConn being No. 1 should be expected in all arenas.’’

For more information about joining the Husky Case Competition Club, see @huskycasecompetitionclub and/or our email: huskycasecompetitionclub@gmail.com.