At the recent American Marketing Association International Collegiate Conference, Missouri State University AMA chapter ranked among the top 25 out of 344 chapters worldwide, marking a historic milestone.

The conference took place March 12-14 in Chicago, Illinois. The recognition for the chapter reflects years of sustained effort, growth and student leadership.

“It’s an incredible achievement earned through years of effort from students who kept building and pushing forward,” said Dr. Jenifer Skiba, faculty advisor and associate professor of marketing.”

A milestone years in the making

The top 25 recognition is determined through a comprehensive annual report. It evaluates chapter performance across areas, such as professional development, community impact, fundraising and member engagement.

Since Skiba began advising the chapter in 2019, both she and the students have shared a clear goal of reaching the top 25. However, the path was not easy.

“After COVID, we had just two members. But we kept rebuilding and now have more than 30 active members,” she said.

What set Missouri State’s AMA chapter apart was its consistency across all areas. From hosting professional development events to organizing community initiatives, students demonstrated a well-rounded and impactful program.

“This was something we had been working toward for so long,” said Sage Canon, chapter president and marketing junior. “To finally see it happen, it showed that all the hard work paid off.”

Success beyond the rankings

In addition to the top 25 recognition, Missouri State students achieved strong results across multiple  challenges at the conference, including Marketplace Simulation, Website Competition and Perfect Pitch.

For Marketplace Simulation, the Missouri State team placed third among 70 teams. The event challenged students to identify market opportunities, design products and analyze data in a fast-paced team environment, where participants made strategic decisions over several hours to maximize profitability. Team members included:

• Jack Branch, freshman, marketing management
• Elliot McCoy, junior, supply chain, logistics and operations management
• Rylan Piepergerdes, sophomore, marketing research
• Sarah Schaibly, senior, advertising and promotion
• Gabriel Smith, senior, marketing management

In the Website Competition, advertising and promotion sophomore Perla Oxlaj received an honorable mention for her work on the chapter’s website.

Electronic arts junior Lila Dothage earned Perfect Pitch finalist honors. She delivered a 90-second pitch positioning herself as a candidate for a role at Gartner.

For students, the conference offered opportunities to network with industry professionals, connect with peers from other universities and apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings.

“AMA helped me build confidence and push beyond what I thought I could do,” Canon said. “It’s not just about the work — it’s about the people, the experience and the growth.”

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