A team of students from the University of Southern Indiana’s Romain College of Business’ American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter earned both individual and chapter-wide recognition for its outstanding achievements during the 2025 AMA International Collegiate Conference, held April 3-5, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Alyssa McClain Wood, a senior public relations and advertising major, earned Honorable Mention in the Perfect Pitch Competition after making it to the final round out of 550 participants, while USI’s entire chapter received an Outstanding classification for chapter planning efforts. This was the fourth international conference the chapter has participated in since becoming a full member in 2021.
USI’s 11 students—Kayla Dahmer, Ricky Doan, Aeva Frimming, Tomas Gonzalez, Lily Hubbard, Cameron Madison, Gracie Madison, Lily Meyer, Alex Perry, Connor Wilson and McClain Wood—were joined by faculty advisors Dr. Nicolas Jankuhn, Assistant Professor of Marketing, and Dr. Jessica Felix Martinez, Assistant Professor of Marketing. The students competed against over 1,600 peers from 330-plus institutions across the United States and Canada in several different competitions.
“I am incredibly proud of our 11 students who represented the Romain College of Business and the University of Southern Indiana at the International Collegiate Conference,” said Dr. Jankuhn. “This exceptional experience for some of our most engaged and active students was made possible thanks to the generous support of the USI Foundation, the Romain College of Business, the Student Government Association and the Provost’s Office. We at AMA are deeply grateful for their continued support.”
Dr. Felix Martinez added: “They also had the wonderful opportunity to network with students from different countries, giving them access to different perspectives on marketing and business. It was an enriching academic and professional experience for students.”
In addition to the Perfect Pitch Competition, students also competed in a design lab competition, marketing strategy competition, marketplace simulation competition and a sales competition.
Students relished the opportunity to showcase the skills they’ve learned in these competitions and expressed how participating in events like this helped them make the most of their college experience.
“When I found out I was a finalist for Perfect Pitch, I was ecstatic. I was not expecting this as no one at USI had made it to the finals before, and it is such a selective competition,” said McClain Wood. “The networking and camaraderie among students were by far my favorite parts. I will forever cherish this time with my fellow AMA members—it was an honor to represent USI together!”
Alex Perry added: “Although I’m a finance and accounting major, being part of USI’s AMA chapter has been a huge part of my college experience and has helped me grow both personally and professionally. I’ve had the opportunity to attend the conference in New Orleans two years in a row, and each time has given me the chance to make the most of my time at USI. It’s allowed me to connect with others, travel and learn the importance of marketing myself in both academic and professional settings.”
While at the conference, students also got to participate in fun activities such as an Opening Ceremony celebration which included a parade of all the chapters who attended the conference. Students also listened to keynote speeches from Martin Nance, Chief Marketing Officer of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, and Mark Romig, Chief Marketing Officer of New Orleans & Company.
Students also had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of the city of New Orleans by visiting places such as Canal Street, Jackson Square and The National WWII Museum. They also networked with students from other chapters and even met for dinner with the AMA chapter from Emporia State University.
This event became a staple for Gracie Madison, senior marketing, public relations and advertising major and AMA Chapter President, as she has made the trip for the past three years. As she prepares to graduate, she’s grateful for the experience being a member of AMA has given her and believes it’s helped her be more prepared for post-college life.
“Being a part of AMA, especially as the Chapter President this year, has had a huge impact on my college experience and my future after college. I’ve gained so much experience through the professional development activities we do, attending our conference and competing, and by managing the chapter in a leadership position,” Madison said. “The skills I’ve learned from being responsible for the chapter will serve me throughout my career in any leadership position I hold. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities AMA and the Romain College of Business have given me!”
