Niagara University Students Participate in International Case Competition

A team of Niagara University business students competed in the 2025 International Case Competition, hosted by the World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara and held at the University of Buffalo on March 7. The students competed against teams from Niagara College, Brock University, Canisius University, and the University of Buffalo at the event, now in its seventh year.

Teams were challenged with proposing an AI-driven solution for Niagara Bolt, a fictional business headquartered in Fort Erie, Ontario, which specializes in manufacturing essential materials for electric vehicle batteries. Their proposals were required to address the company's immediate supply chain challenges while aligning with its long-term growth and market objectives.

"The participation of Niagara University in case competitions allows us to increase the visibility and prestige of our institution and to show the great skills of our students," said Dr. Fernando Naranjo, assistant professor of management, who coached the team. "The seventh annual International Case Competition, organized by the World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara, gave our students the opportunity to compete against top local and regional schools. Our NU team displayed its excellent teamwork abilities and demonstrated its deep knowledge of supply chain management."

"The case competition was a great experience, because as a team we were able to learn how to work under pressure due to the time constraint," said junior Brett Verrall. "We were also able to get out in front of current employers within the industry and present to them, and receive feedback of how we can continue to grow and get better as students."

"In my opinion, there is no better way to get real-world experience in a time-sensitive environment," said senior Nathan Dragon. "This case forces you to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills along with teammates."

"Participating in the 2025 World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara Case Contest was an incredibly rewarding and insightful experience," said senior Avante Walker. "The 24-hour time limit challenged me to think critically under pressure while strengthening my leadership and collaboration skills. I learned the importance of active listening and building on my teammates' ideas, which will be invaluable in my future career."

"The limited time taught me how to work effectively and efficiently with others," agreed sophomore Fajr Hafeez. "It was a great learning experience for real-life situations that may be possible in my major. The experience overall was a great one for future projects and for my future work in the business supply chain."