Baker’s dozen: Trine grads have near-perfect employment for 13th year
While some consider the number 13 unlucky, for Trine University graduates, it’s evidence of continued excellence.
October 30, 2025
Students in Trine University’s Capstone in Sport Management class defeated a team from the University of New Mexico at a Fall Showcase event for the National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship (NCSSC) competition on Oct. 22.
“We’ve still got a lot to improve on for the Super Showcase in November (which is when seeding begins for the Atlanta trip), but this initial round was good practice for the class,” said Zander Atwood, faculty advisor and assistant professor of sport management at Trine University.
The Trine team scored a 4-2 victory in the virtual event.
The competition was based on the overall topic of understanding customer needs, with quizzes and activities centered around the topic itself, including the Quantum Quiz, Email Response, Resume Evaluations and a 60-Second Elevator Pitch.
A LinkedIn post by the NCSSC recognized Cole Dean, a sport management major from Parchment, Michigan, Alexander Elliott, a sport management major from Battle Creek, Michigan, and Mason Slazyk, a sport management major from Fort Wright, Kentucky, as top performers for Trine.
The Trine team will compete in a second Fall Showcase event against the University of Louisiana-Lafayette on Nov. 6.
Trine will then move on to the Super Showcase, also held online, on Nov. 12. Top finishers in the Super Showcase will be seeded for the annual in-person competition in Atlanta early next year.
The NCSSC is a ticket sales and corporate partnerships sales role-play competition that allows college seniors majoring in business administration and sport management the chance to compete against top talent from across the nation.