• Senior Drew Buchalski (Business Administration);
• Senior Cora Gottbehuet (Business Administration);
• Senior Mark O’Connor (Business Administration and minor in Environmental Studies); and
• Sophomore Morgan (Emmy) Scott (Business Administration and Environmental Studies)

The students made three presentations related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, a global partnership whose aim includes ending poverty, improving health and education, reducing inequality, spurring economic growth, and addressing climate change.

Their presentations, titled Vale Mining Company: Behind the Economic and Environmental Veil, involved the legal, financial and ethical dimensions of the problem; a recommended, viable solution; and sustainability issues.

The students were in consensus after the competition, “We've never worked as hard as we did for this competition, and it’s satisfying to know that we earned this recognition. This has been a great learning experience.”

During the competitions, the UNC team faced George Washington University, Mount Holyoke College, University of New Hampshire, University of Illinois, Fordham University, Grinnell College, Loyola Marymount University, Claremont McKenna College, James Madison University, Marist College, University of Florida and Santa Barbara City College. 

“The classroom experience is only one facet of the learning experience.  Competitions, such as this one, provide a unique venue where students need to apply what they learned usually under a variety of pressures,” said Monfort College of Business dean Paul Bobrowski.

“And, like they performed in this competition, students from the Monfort College of Business can hold their own and more against any group of students.”

The performance of the 2019 team continues a legacy of success for UNC at the competition. Last year, two teams brought home first-place honors.

Learn more about the 2019 IBESCC.