From 320 to 5: Celebrating the Best of COBT's Elevator Pitch Competition

The Marketing program at the College of Business & Technology brought energy, innovation, and impressive talent to campus during the Final Round of the Elevator Pitch Competition. 

This semester, 320 COBT students stepped up to the challenge, refining their personal pitches and professional presence for the first round of the Elevator Pitch Competition. From that competitive field, the top 20 finalists earned a spot in the final round, where they competed for top honors and cash prizes generously sponsored by Central Garden & Pet and Fouts Bros. 

After a standout evening of presentations, the top five winners are: 

• 1st Place: Abigail “Abby” Black – Elementary Education, Marketing minor 
• 2nd Place: Maeve Gallentine – Management 
• 3rd Place: Paige Sandidge – World Languages & Culture, Marketing 
• 4th Place: McCreary “Maggie” Allen – Accounting 
• 5th Place: Rachel Tew – Public Health, Business Administration minor 
   

Building Confidence, One Pitch at a Time 
Since its launch in Fall 2012, the bi-annual Elevator Pitch Competition has become a cornerstone professional development experience for COBT students. The competition equips students with essential skills in self-promotion, confidence and self-awareness — all key tools for success in interviews, networking and beyond. 

This semester’s competition was powered by strong community engagement, including: 

• 2 corporate sponsors 
• 34 volunteer judges (25% proud alumni) 
• 111 follow-up connections requested by judges eager to stay in touch with students 
   

A True Team Effort 
Events like this don’t happen without incredible support. Special thanks go to the faculty who integrated the competition into their courses, including Ms. Evans, Mr. Hill, Dr. Patterson, Dr. Rickard, Dr. Serafin and Mr. Walton.

The event organizers also extend appreciation to Dr. Scott Manley, CoBT leadership for their continued support and Leigh MacLeod, whose dedication helps make this event a success year after year. 

From first pitch to final round, this competition continues to showcase our incredible students!