November 25, 2025
By Avalon Schnelker
English ’27
Students in Trine University’s Capstone in Sport Management class won their second National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship (NCSSC) showcase event of the fall, then went on to place in the national Super Showcase.
On Nov. 6, the Trine students competed in a virtual school-versus-school matchup against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Students were tested on Building Rapport with Customers. The Trine team won in a tiebreaker, scoring a 4-3 categorical victory over the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
The Trine team had previously defeated the University of New Mexico 4-2.
Sport management majors Josh Hartman from Whitestown, Indiana, Alexander Elliott from Battle Creek, Michigan, and Beckam Pichardo from Sunland Park, New Mexico, were named top performers for Trine.
On Nov. 12, 171 students representing 42 schools from around the nation competed in the NCSSC Super Showcase. Four of Trine’s 11 team members ranked in the Top 25.
Mason Slazyk, a sport management major from Fort Wright, Kentucky, finished second overall. Kyler Bayes, a sport management major from New Haven, Indiana, placed seventh; Josh Hartman placed 15th and Cole Dean, a sport management major from Parchment, Michigan, placed 19th.
“I’m incredibly proud of our students for the energy and intensity they brought to this event, and for all the hard work they’ve put in throughout the semester,” said Atwood. “I’m looking forward to seeing where our students ranked against others in the nation and where Trine stands among other schools as well.”
The final rankings come out in December. Those rankings will determine who will compete in the NCSSC in-person competition in February at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Trine University’s first Associate of Science and Master of Science in nursing graduates, along with physician assistant and surgical technology graduates, received a welcome to the healthcare field from the leader of Cameron Health, herself a longtime nurse, during the university’s fall Commencement on Dec. 12.
Trine University’s Thunder Therapy Clinic, which provides pro-bono rehabilitation services to those in the Fort Wayne area with limited means, will offer occupational therapy beginning in January.
Trine engineering mechanical engineering majors Ezekiel Keim, Christian Verst, Collin Seegert, Jacob Batten, Michael Jones, Ryan Somsel and Tristan Pappano secured a sponsorship from one of their hometowns for their senior design project, an entry for the annual Shell Eco-marathon.