A team of four Cal State Fullerton human resources students took second place at a recent case study competition featuring teams from 10 Cal State and University of California schools. San Diego State University took first place, while CSUF edged out such notable rivals as UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Long Beach. The Titan team members were Christian Gonzalez ’22, Samuel La Scala ’22, Matthew Martinez ’22 and Amy Risner ’23.

Held in person at Cal State Long Beach on the weekend of March 11 and 12, the competition, hosted by the California State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), gave the region’s aspiring HR professionals the opportunity to test their acumen in front of real-world business professionals who served as judges.

This was the first time Cal State Fullerton was represented in this biannual competition.

“The competition proved to be a great opportunity to network with both HR professionals and HR students across the state,” says Martinez. “The fact that we managed to get second place is a bonus. I have no doubt that my participation and success in the event will boost my résumé and help distinguish me as an aspiring HR professional.

“This competition has shown me that anything is possible if you simply open yourself up to engaging in the opportunities that present themselves.”

Martinez and his peers were notified of the event just a week before the registration date, allowing little time to assemble a team and meet eligibility requirements.

But Martinez and his classmates were ready to compete with the support of advisor Liliana Arguello, director of membership at the Professionals in Human Resources Association, who helped the team obtain scholarships, and the encouragement of Shaun Pichler, management professor and director of the HR grad program.

“We had five days to review the case, write an executive summary, and rehearse and submit our presentation,” says Martinez. “To meet our deadline, we first reviewed the case individually. We then came together and shared our thoughts and opinions. Afterward, we crafted an outline and made sure to align it with the questions and judging criteria presented to us. From there, we then split up to each tackle a section of the presentation. The executive summary was a group effort. Two nights of group rehearsals ultimately helped us feel confident and comfortable presenting from memory. Proper planning, schedule flexibility and a shared desire to succeed are what helped our team craft a presentation worthy of second place.”

Says Pichler: “Investing the countless hours of preparation it takes to compete in the Cal SHRM Case Study Competition is an achievement in and of itself. Taking second place their first time competing in this event exemplifies the rigor of our HR program and the talent of our student leaders.”

SHRM facilitates professional development opportunities for young people seeking careers in the HR field. The society has chapters at many colleges and universities, including Cal State Fullerton, where guest speakers and executive panels regularly provide perspective to students.

For More on HR Education

Undergraduate and graduate programs in human resources are available at Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics. Taught by world-class research and teaching faculty and supplemented with extensive networking opportunities in Orange County, the programs ensure the next generation of human resources professionals will have the experience, skills and background needed to succeed and represent their employers.

Learn more about the college’s human resources education program by reaching out to the CSUF Department of Management at [email protected].