Known as the Olympic Games for business students in Western Canada, UNBC’s JDC West teams captured first place for most charity dollars raised, first place in marketing, third place in debate and UNBC graduate Ben Walls earned the Growing Legacy Award at this year’s JDC West Competition.
The three-day event took place in January at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
Team captains Sam Schneider and Christian Clark-Gray both feel this year’s awards carry extra significance because they symbolize more than just a recognition of the hard work UNBC’s delegation of 42 put into preparing for the competition and success in the events, they also represent the local club’s ability to rally after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Just being able to come out of the pandemic, be one of the smaller business programs at the competition and have such tremendous success is definitely a special takeaway,” says Schneider, who is in his final year of a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in Accounting.
Both captains said it was a year of reviving the JDC West program at UNBC and had help from Patricia Miles and Ryan Tretick, two UNBC alumni who remained involved as team mentors.
“After two years of being online, Sam and I were the only ones with in-person competition experience,” said Clark-Gray, also in his final year, majoring in Marketing and Finance.
“We had a lot of work to do at the beginning of the year, drumming up interest, to convince students it would be a worthwhile event. It became an easy sell once students really understood the rewards to be gained from participating.”
The captains credit Miles’ efforts with facilitating the victory for most charity dollars raised.
UNBC’s JDC West delegation raised $92,000 for the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation to support cardiac care in the north.
The amount totaled almost half of what was raised by all schools competing in the 2023 event.
“This year, I wanted to stay on and help Sam and Christian,” said Miles. “Their work really inspired a lot of students who are now talking about coming back next year and convincing their friends to join. It’s all because these two really re-built this year and made it amazing.”
Clark-Gray says UNBC often outperforms larger schools in this category. “One of the benefits of being from a smaller community is we develop really close relationships with our charity partners and our sponsors.
“Success at the competition proves it’s more about input and output, than the size of the school. You get out of it, what you put in.”
Schneider said the JDC West competition offers a unique opportunity to gain real-world experience and he hopes this year’s success will ensure interest at UNBC for the 2024 event.
“JDC West is an opportunity for students to apply so many skills outside of the classroom. Participants really have a chance to improve their technical skills when it comes to case solving and presentation abilities,” said Schneider.
“As well, you’re essentially getting to meet the top 600 business students from across Western Canada and network with business professionals from across the country. It’s an opportunity to gain so much knowledge and just soak up as much as you can.”
