Students represent JMU in national competitions

Competitions offer more than just the end prize. They make academic material come to life as students work to analyze and evaluate outcomes, develop innovative solutions to real-world business problems and present their ideas to industry professionals. Students gain experience, accept loss and overcome challenges while allowing them to showcase their skills, uncover personal aptitude and push themselves to do their best work.

CFA Society Virginia Stock Pitch Competition

On April 7 two student research teams traveled to Richmond to participate in the highly competitive CFA Society Virginia Stock Pitch Competition. Among the top eight university teams competing, one of the College of Business teams earned first place, successfully defending their championship title from 2025.

In addition to this outstanding achievement, the winning team received $2,000 in cash awards. Both teams represented JMU exceptionally well, and demonstrated hard work, preparation and professionalism throughout the competition.

Rainey-Shepard-Kushel Business Plan Competition

On March 27 the College of Business hosted its annual Business Plan Competition, welcoming students, alumni, parents and judges to the Forum, where five student-teams presented their innovative ideas and competed for more than $50,000 in scholarships. Teams were judged on presentation quality, business idea originality and potential for profitability and then questioned on finance, management, marketing and operations details before judges deliberated. Meet the competing teams and participants.

Association for Information Systems Student Chapter Leadership Conference

James Madison University took center stage as students led the national Association for Information Systems Student Chapter Leadership Conference, welcoming peers from 18 universities. From competitions to hands-on workshops, the student-run event showcased innovation, leadership and real-world problem solving. 

JMU’s team took third place in the Cybersecurity: Strengthening Cyber Defense in Financial Services challenge, and JMU’s chapter won awards for Outstanding Communications and Outstanding Membership Activities. Read more about the conference.

AMA International Collegiate Conference

Twenty members of James Madison University’s American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter attended the 2026 AMA International Collegiate Conference, representing the university among more than 1,700 students from over 340 chapters worldwide.

The chapter earned a Top 15 global ranking, improving from a Top 50 placement last year. This recognition reflects measurable chapter performance, including 110 active members, a 2.5-fold increase in weekly meeting attendance, and $25,000 raised, exceeding fundraising goals by $10,000. 

During the conference, students also participated in workshops, networking events and competitions supported by major sponsors and partners.

The Fallon Challenge

February 27 marked the eleventh presentation of The Fallon Challenge, which brought together an impressive lineup of hopeful student entrepreneurs pitching their most innovative proposals to a panel of local business owners. With support from the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship and faculty members of the Department of Business Management, students competed for a $2,000 scholarship. Each year, a single undergraduate entrepreneur (or two-member team) is chosen as having developed the best values-based business idea.

This year's winner was RE Lifestyle, a sustainable furniture and product design company centered around modularity, material innovation and elevated aesthetics. Conceived and created by Gabriella Fontanilla, a third year Industrial Design student in JMU's School of Art, Design and Art History, the brand focuses on transforming recycled and refurbished materials, like reclaimed wood, sustainable plastics and alternative metals, into high-end, adaptable pieces that function as systems rather than single-use products.

Global Asset Management Education Forum

In March, the Madison Investment Fund (MIF) attended Quinnipiac’s annual Global Asset Management Education Forum in New York City with 1,200 students from over 135 colleges and universities. 

Over the course of two days, MIF members heard from industry keynote speakers who shared insights on current market outlooks and investment strategies, the evolving role of AI in asset management and the ongoing debate between active and passive portfolio management. 

MIF students also had the opportunity to participate in the forum’s portfolio competition, competing alongside top student-managed funds from universities across the country.

Econ Games

A six-person student team representing JMU’s College of Business traveled to the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics in Lexington, Kentucky to participate in Econ Games, a national data analytics competition. The event brought together more than 240 undergraduate students from 29 universities across the country to analyze real-world data and present actionable insights to an industry partner. 

JMU’s team used practice data from Equibase Co. to develop and present their findings, marking their first time attending Econ Games. The competition provided students with an intensive, hands-on experience in data analytics, economic reasoning and professional pitching. Faculty advisor John Kruggel noted the students’ dedication and enthusiasm, highlighting the 12-hour data-crunching effort and the team’s interest in returning to future competitions.