Career Management - Elevator Competition

Each year, the College of Business hosts an elevator competition — actually held in an elevator — to help students practice giving a one-minute “speech” describing their education, skills, and aspirations.

To enter the contest, students must attend free workshops about body language, public speaking, professional dress, and business etiquette. The workshops are designed to help students determine what sets them apart from the competition and learn how to make a better first impression.

Hiring managers from companies such as Melitta, Regions Bank, T. Rowe Price, and Dillards judge students on their ability to communicate, share information about their education and abilities, professional appearance, confidence, and overall first impression.

The 4th annual Elevator Competition was held on Saturday morning March 31, 2012 at 100 North Tampa St in Downtown Tampa. This year, the top 26 students who participated in the preliminaries advanced to the finals. The students were judged by business leaders from the Bay area and international businesses such as: Regions, Nielsen, Deloitte and Tarmac America. Out of the 26 finalists 6 (5 females and 1 male) had advanced to the final round to perform the one minute speech one last time to all the judges in a Regions Boardroom. The prize for the top 6 competitors was a Kindle Fire sponsored by Nielsen.

Here are this year’s winners and their scholarship awards

1. Kristina Crane $1,000
2. Demelza Hays $500
3. Lindsay Berstling $250

Congratulations to all participants!

The 4th Elevator Competitions was sponsored by Proctor&Gamble, Nielsen, Regions Bank, and CLW Real Estate Services Group (100 North Tampa).