̨Íåswag

University of North Georgia (̨Íåswag) student Ashleigh Slaughter took first place out of 140 competitors at the National Collegiate Sales Competition (NCSC) at Kennesaw State University in March, and ̨Íåswag's student team took third overall out of 70 schools competing.

The team consisted of Slaughter, Alyssa Elliott, Colin Sharp, and Kyler Vaeth, all of whom are pursuing marketing degrees.

Students were given a company product, tasked with learning about the product and presenting a sales plan. ̨Íåswag's performance at NCSC shows a major transformation from being ranked 51st in 2021 to now third. It finished tied for fourth in 2022.

Slaughter said this experience has already led to being recruited for jobs after graduation in summer 2023.

"Competing at NCSC was an amazing experience that has provided me with so much knowledge that I will carry with me into my future sales career," the Forsyth, Georgia, resident said. "After working so hard, winning NCSC was a dream come true and has provided me with so many amazing opportunities."

In preparation for the competition, Dr. Cindy Rippé, associate professor of sales, and her students met weekly for 20 hours since December and participated in two competitions. The previous events included the Bayou Sales Challenge in Thibodaux, Louisiana, hosted by Nicholls State University in February. Vaeth and Sharp won their respective rounds during the "pressure" segment. Slaughter, Elliott and Sharp also teamed up for a seventh-place finish out of more than 40 schools at the Redbird Sales Competition held virtually by Illinois State University in February.

"It's really important for the students to see  time and hard work pay  off," Rippé said. "On top of that, it helps them in their sales careers because they know the sales process, understand the customers' needs and can gear a presentation towards those needs and how to close."

So many sponsors want to work with ̨Íåswag because they see how our students are doing and are recruiting them for sales. I always tell the students, 'Come to class, get a job.'

Dr. Cindy Rippé

associate professor of sales

"I'm so proud of how my students have grown in their ability to manage objections and turn them around," Rippé said. "So many sponsors want to work with ̨Íåswag because they see how our students are doing and are recruiting them for sales. I always tell the students, 'Come to class, get a job.'"