Marketing Students Compete at National Collegiate Digital Marketing Championship

On April 10-11, five Isenberg marketing majors, led by Lecturer Thomas Woodside, traveled to Baylor University in Waco, TX, to compete in the first annual National Collegiate Digital Marketing Championship. The event serves as an opportunity for students to compete against other top performers across the country to set the foundation for a profession in digital marketing with ethics, integrity, and skill. The team participated in four events: Presentation Pro, Quantum Quiz, Man vs Machine, and Going Viral. Each challenge tested students’ knowledge and further developed their presentation skills, competencies in digital marketing, and ability to network with students and industry professionals.

The key theme throughout the event was integrity. Keynote speakers included industry professionals such as Google’s Kelsey Goenner (speaking about “what integrity means to me”) and John Dillon, former president of Denny’s and Executive in Residence; the message was clear that integrity is crucial in business and in life.

Students left with the encouragement to do the right thing and to make sound decisions for themselves and for society. With Woodside’s guidance, the team of five was able to place eleventh in the competition. The team studied diligently between their hectic academic schedules to prepare and practice for the challenges and relied on one another to stay positive, communicate effectively, and remain focused on their tasks while in high-stress environments.

The team reported that the experience was as challenging as it was rewarding. “It was an amazing experience to be part of the UMass team, participating in the inaugural year of the NDMC," said team member Dario DeAlbergaria. "I can’t wait to see what the future teams accomplish.”