Five students representing the NDSU Human Resources Association recently earned first place in a statewide human resources competition. The North Dakota Society of Human Resources Management State Council hosted the North Dakota Human Resources Games at Richard H. Barry Hall.

Chelsey Swanhorst, Jennifer Bogart, Kellie Gores, Sarah Pechacek and Andrea Irsfeld earned the top award, which included $250 and a trip to a regional competition in Ames, Iowa.

The students were given four hours to analyze a 20-page case study related to proposed lay-offs in a company, come up with a resolution, write a two-page executive summary and prepare a 10-minute presentation. Charles Stevens, professor of human resource management, said although students conduct numerous case studies in the College of Business, they are usually given more time to complete the project.

Stevens, who is the adviser for the NDSU Human Resource Association said he was “extremely impressed with how the team members worked together.”  He added, “They are a great group of students.”

Swanhorst, a senior majoring in management from Delano, Minn., said the study was challenging, but a great experience. “We had a great group of NDSU students participating this year,” she said. “We all worked great together.”

Gores, a senior majoring in management from Cottage Grove, Minn., said the conference provided a challenging and realistic opportunity to understanding some of the issues faced in human resources.

Bogart is a senior majoring in management from Rogers, Minn. Irsfeld is a senior majoring in hospitality and tourism management.  Pechacek is a senior majoring in management.

The students competed in a regional competition March 22-23 in Ames, Iowa. Teams represented Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.