Human resource management students from O’Neill earned an impressive second-place finish at the annual HR Case Competition hosted by Purdue University’s Mitch Daniels School of Business earlier this month. This marks the third consecutive year O’Neill students have placed in the top two, a testament to the program’s culture of excellence and strong student leadership.
Led by co-captains Ashlyn Brown and Zelyah Barajas, the team included Ashley Gilmer, Sara Hasan, Manali Mukherjee, Katherine Biber, Ella Markley, and Tara Corra. Members were selected through a competitive and thoughtful audition process which emphasized problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills.
Putting in the Work
A top-tier finish doesn’t happen by chance. In the weeks leading up to the competition, the team committed to an intense preparation schedule designed to strengthen their HR expertise and polish their presentation skills.
“In the month leading up to the competition, we held weekly meetings focused on strengthening our analytical abilities and refining our HR knowledge through sample case exercises,” Brown said. “We also dedicated time to presentation development, ensuring each member was able to communicate insights confidently and cohesively.”
As the competition neared, the pressure increased.
“One week before the competition, we received the official case from Purdue. During that final stretch, we met daily to conduct in-depth research, develop our recommendations, design the presentation, and practice our delivery,” she shared.
Their hard work paid off—not only with a second-place finish, but with a $1,000 award recognizing their strong performance.
The Competition Experience
Despite their preparation, competing before expert judges still brought its share of nerves.
“The most challenging aspect is managing pre-presentation nerves, especially knowing how much dedication and preparation led up to that moment,” Brown said. “However, the most memorable and rewarding part is watching our team present with confidence, professionalism, and pride in the work we produced. Seeing our ideas come to life and sharing them with the judges consistently makes the experience worthwhile.”
Skills for the Future
More than just an academic challenge, the case competition provided a hands-on opportunity for professional development.
“The skills I gained through this experience are recruitment evaluation, analytical problem-solving, professional communication, presentation delivery, time management, creativity, and a strong work ethic,” Brown shared. “These skills are directly transferable to both my remaining coursework and my future career in HR and public policy. Participating in the competition has strengthened my confidence, sharpened my professional skill set, and prepared me to excel in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.”
Faculty lead Cheryl Hughes echoed that sentiment, praising the team’s professionalism and talent.
“The fact that this team was composed of traditional undergraduate students and still outperformed teams with significantly more work experience speaks volumes about their professionalism, preparation, and talent. These strong, intelligent, and driven women represented IU with distinction and embodied the excellence that sets our program apart.”
The O’Neill School proudly congratulates the HR case competition team for their excellent performance, which showcased their discipline, teamwork, and dedication to excellence.
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