UTSA business students win future global leaders competition

Pictured from left are Kyle Burns (president and CEO of Free Trade Alliance San Antonio), UTSA student Ryanne Vela, UTSA student Christopher Abowd, Jorge Canavati (vice president of business development, Port of San Antonio), UTSA student Ryan Zapata, Gloria Andrade-Merrell (education committee chair, Free Trade Alliance) and St. Mary's University student Luisa Rodriguez

By Audrey Magnuson
Interim Director, University Career Center

(May 13, 2010)--The Free Trade Alliance San Antonio recently collaborated with the International Business Plan Program, a community partner, to encourage international awareness, develop a global perspective and foster the entrepreneurial spirit of local students. The program provides students exposure to real-world business experience to help them develop a global mindset and pursue careers in international business to become our community's global leaders.

UTSA was well represented in the program with seven students from the College of Business on the final list. The juniors and seniors pursuing the bachelor of business administration degree are Ryan Zapata, Ryanne Vela, Christopher Abowd, Lourdes Michelle Munoz, Randolph Scott, Danielle Montes and Vera Shamanina.

First place in the Future Global Leaders Business Plan competition was won by Ryan Zapata, Ryanne Vela and Christopher Abowd from UTSA and Luisa Rodrigues from St. Mary's University. The students were teamed with Sarah Sanchez, a mentor from H-E-B's global sourcing department. The team developed an internal marketing plan for H-E-B, initiating an internal strategic alliance between H-E-B Cooking Connections and the global sourcing department. The plan was focused on H-E-B's innovative competitive advantage to showcase their globally sourced products through the Cooking Connection kiosk.

The program would increase consumer awareness, basket size and overall gross profit by $100 million within five years. The winners received several awards including a $2,500 cash prize divided among team members, a one-year student membership in the Free Trade Alliance and the Global Leaders certificate. An awards luncheon was April 27 with representatives from participating schools joining the students to support them in this important success.

Events

Wednesday, April 24, 11:30 a.m.

Denim Day

Join the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.

Student Union Window Lounge, Main Campus

Wednesday, April 24, 5:00 p.m.

Simplifying Citations With Zotero

Learn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.

Virtual Event

Friday, May 3, 11:30 a.m.

McNair Scholars' Spring Celebration

This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.

North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main Campus

Wednesday, May 15, 6:00 p.m.

Doctoral Conferral Ceremony

At this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.

Arts Building Recital Hall, Main Campus

Thursday, May 16, 3:00 p.m.

Roadrunner Walk

Roadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.

Student Union Paseo, Main Campus

Friday, May 17, 10:00 a.m.

Commencement: Ceremony One

Celebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

Friday, May 17, 4:30 p.m.

Commencement: Ceremony Two

Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

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