Four Podium Finishes for Sheridan Students at the Annual Ontario College Marketing Competition

At the Ontario College Marketing Competition (OCMC), Sheridan’s contingent from its Business Administration - Marketing and Advertising and Marketing Communications- Management diploma programs placed fifth overall, with students taking home one gold, three silvers and a fourth-place honour. The 39^th-annual event was hosted by Niagara College, drawing more than 300 students from 12 Ontario public colleges as well as industry leaders and faculty to Niagara Falls on November 21 and 22.

OCMC is an opportunity for business students across the province to showcase their skills in a competitive environment, while networking with potential employers and leaders in their fields who are in attendance as judges. Competition categories include Direct Marketing, Prospect Pitching, Entrepreneurship, Marketing Research and more. Sheridan sent 22 students to participate in 11 categories.

Interested students participate in try-outs on campus in the spring each year and those who are selected train throughout the summer and fall with coaches from the Pilon School of Business. Long-time professor in Sheridan’s business programs and an OCMC coach, Lorraine Alyea, believes that it’s an experience that greatly benefits students as they prepare to enter the workforce. “Networking is an important part of the OCMC experience,” she says. “Students showcase their talent to industry while gaining real-world experiences. The cases featured in the competition are real issues faced in industry.”

Winning gold in the Job Interview category was Sheridan student Noor Abu Ramadan. “OCMC gives you the chance to take everything you learn in the classroom and apply it to a real-life challenge,” she says. “The experience really pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to truly discover what I’m capable of. Participating in events like OCMC is also a great opportunity to build and grow your network.”

Silver medals went to Mariyam Johnston and Miki Traczyk in Prospect Pitching and Maxx Duda and Sam Palen in International Marketing, as well as Shadai Miller in the Quiz Bowl – a fast-paced and strategic question challenge coached by Alyea. Rahul Gujral and Jenny Kim finished fourth in Marketing Research.

“I’m so very proud of our entire OCMC team. I’m also thrilled that our students were awarded for their exceptional performances on a provincial stage,” says Dr. Anne-Liisa Longmore, Dean of the Pilon School of Business at Sheridan. “It’s a testament to their hard work training for competition and to our faculty’s dedication in supporting our students’ success.”

In 2020, Sheridan will host the 40^th OCMC at its Hazel McCallion Campus in Mississauga.

Learn more about Sheridan’s Business degrees.