4th Place in Business Competition

     Topeka, Kan. – A team of Washburn University Gregory D. and Ronda K. Brenneman School of Business students who participated in Capsim’s Capstone 2.0 Spring Challenge 2025 are among the best of the best. The five-person team qualified for the final round after competing against hundreds of students from around the world and earned an impressive fourth place win.

     The team of Jake Markert from Saint Peters, Mo. (Spring 2025 graduate), Zaid Dajani from Lenexa, Kan. (Class of 2026), Alonzo Barraza from Topeka, Kan. (Spring 2025 graduate), Dominic Lopez from Parker, Colo. (Spring 2025 graduate) and Timothy Powell from Topeka, Kan. (Spring 2025 graduate) strategically ran a virtual multi-million-dollar company making a decision every hour for eight hours straight. Their win indicates they can be successful under pressure in an industry facing ever-changing economic conditions.

     On behalf of the team, Powell said, “The most meaningful part of my simulation experience would be the importance of having a good R&D (research and development) team and strategy. Between my class simulation and the Challenge simulation, our strategy changed dramatically and we made fewer errors.”

     Every year, Brenneman School of Business students who take Dr. Norma Juma’s Strategic Management course experience Capsim Business Simulation. This is an online tool that helps them relate to what happens in the real world as they make strategic decisions across the core functions of a business. After they participate in the simulation, they can register to participate in the Capsim Challenge. Juma, Brenneman professor of business strategy, has used this simulation since 2006 and has led several students as individuals and teams to the challenge finals.

 “The Capsim simulation is an invaluable teaching tool that enables students to directly experience the impact of their decisions. While lectures can explain concepts like liquidity versus profitability, Capsim allows students to feel the real consequences—such as facing emergency loans during a profitable round. This hands-on approach provides an experiential learning opportunity that goes beyond traditional methods like lectures or case studies, immersing students in accounting, finance and strategic management concepts in a way they are unlikely to forget. For instance, students vividly remember the lessons from navigating a liquidity crisis during a profitable year and these experiences foster skills that are directly transferable to their careers,” said Juma.

Dr. David Sollars, dean of the Washburn University Brenneman School of Business stated, “Washburn School of Business students excel in and out of the classroom because they are prepared for the modern business landscape by excellent faculty who ensure their students have opportunities like the Capism Simulation and Challenge.”

About the Capsim Challenge
            The Capsim Challenge attracts students from around the globe who have completed a Capsim simulation in the previous 12 months. Countries represented include Australia, Canada, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Türkiye and USA. All winners past and present are listed in the Capsim Hall of Fame at http://www.capsim.com/events/challenge/#/hof. Learn more about Capsim at https://www.capsim.com/.

About the Washburn University Brenneman School of Business

      The Washburn University Brenneman School of Business provides knowledge and personalized experiences to engage students who will enhance the economic vitality of businesses in the region and beyond. The Washburn University Brenneman School of Business has experienced and knowledgeable faculty and staff members who are dedicated to the success of students. The school's programs are accredited by AACSB, the oldest and most prestigious business accreditation organization.

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For further information, contact:
Joy Bailes
Director of Internal Communications and Brand Management
Telephone: (785) 670-2153
Cell: (785) 230-1648
Email: joy.bailes@washburn.edu