Last weekend, Lethbridge College brought out its competitive side.

At one end of campus the Women’s National Basketball Tournament was under way. On the other end, a competition of a much different variety was taking place.

Students from all over Alberta got together to discuss business at the Alberta Deans’ Business Case Competition.

Eleven of Alberta’s 13 colleges were at Lethbridge College on Friday and Saturday to compete for a total of $8,000.

Each team was a possible total of six people, one or two of which were an instructor or coach from the represented college. They were given a case study involving a local business and had two days to come up with a full business plan on how to improve the business’ problem. They then presented their findings on Saturday morning.  

Bridge View Custom Cabinets was the business chosen for this year’s competition.

Each presentation had a 15-minute limit. The rules were strict; stopwatch timing and no cellphones, newspapers, laptops or cameras. Once each team entered the theatre, the door was closed and guarded by someone on the other side. No one could get in or out until the presentation was complete.

Each team was named after places you would find around Lethbridge, including Writing On Stone, Fort Whoop-Up and Frank Slide. The purpose of this was to keep each team’s college a secret to eliminate any bias from the judges.

The presentations were done in front of two judges and a small audience. After the presentations, judges got a few minutes to ask question about the presentation.

Teams were not allowed to watch other presentations until theirs was complete.

First place went to Medicine Hat College and they received $4,000. Second place went to NAIT for a total of $2,500, Lakeland College came in third and received $1,500, and Lethbridge College and SAIT received honourable mentions.