Ball State University students are gaining hands-on experience and valuable industry connections through a strong year of competition for the Ball State Sales Team.
Part of Ball State’s Center for Professional Selling in the Miller College of Business, the Sales Team gives students opportunities to test their skills in national collegiate competitions built around role-play, presentations, speed selling, and other real-world business scenarios. The Center’s broader approach emphasizes experiential learning, industry partnerships, and direct engagement with employers—giving students opportunities to strengthen their communication skills, build confidence, and prepare for internships and careers after graduation.
“Every competition gives our students a chance to apply what they have learned in the classroom in a real-world setting,” said Chris Wilkey, director of Ball State’s Center for Professional Selling and associate lecturer of marketing. “They are working through live sales scenarios, receiving direct feedback from professionals, and building the kind of confidence and experience that can shape internships, job opportunities, and long-term careers.”
That growth has been on display throughout the academic year.
This Spring, Ball State students competed in a range of national events. At the Warhawk National Competition, Maria Alexander, Cory Shaw, and Elanie Richardson represented the University in a multi-round sales process competition centered on Gartner. At the Global Bilingual Sales Competition in Miami, Bella Bedolla and Alberto Ballesteros Astiz advanced to the final round in an event that challenged students to sell in both English and Spanish. Jenna Hartley, a digital marketing student, also traveled with the group to document the experience as part of Ball State’s digital marketing minor.
Ball State also posted strong results at Selling With the Bulls in Tampa, where Maria Alexander, Clara Miller, Tessa Graney, and Makayla Queen helped the University finish fourth in the Championship Flight against 13 experienced programs. Ms. Graney also placed fourth overall individually, while Ball State finished third in the inaugural Copient.ai Sales Role Play Training Competition. At the University of Toledo Sales Invitational, Isaac Baker and Ethan Feliciano represented Ball State in a developmental event focused on learning directly from industry partners; Mr. Feliciano also won a social media competition sponsored by Gartner.
For Mr. Wilkey, those results matter because of what they represent for students.
“What stands out most is the growth our students experience through this process,” Mr. Wilkey said. “Students like Maria Alexander, Cory Shaw, Elanie Richardson, Bella Bedolla, Alberto Ballesteros Astiz, Clara Miller, Tessa Graney, Makayla Queen, Isaac Baker, and Ethan Feliciano are putting themselves in competitive environments, learning how to think on their feet, and representing Ball State with professionalism. Those are experiences that stay with them well beyond a single event.”
Ball State students also competed in several events during the Fall 2025 semester. At the IU Team Selling Competition in Bloomington, Cory Shaw was named MVP for his room. At the Global Collegiate Sales Competition in Las Vegas, Lucy Lyons placed second overall and won $2,000, while Maria Alexander reached the semifinals. In the Stukent Virtual Sales Competition, Ms. Alexander earned second place overall. The Center also hosts internal competitions each Fall and Spring, with more than 30 students participating and scholarship support awarded to top performers.
The work behind those experiences involves support from across Ball State. The Sales Team is coached by faculty and staff including Mr. Wilkey, Austin Hostetter, Dr. Jessica Zeiss, Lucas Pint, Dr. Ben Angelo, Alex Sventeckis, and Dr. Rebecca VanMeter. Student coaches and support team members—including Gabriella Thomas, Jackie Hochberg, Branden Erwin, Kaelyn White, Bre Taulbee, and Lucy Lyons—also have helped Ball State students prepare for competitions throughout the year.
For students in the Center for Professional Selling, those opportunities are part of a larger learning environment that connects coursework with practice. Through sales classes, career fairs, networking events, internal competitions, and national travel opportunities, Ball State students are able to work directly with recruiters, sales professionals, and partner companies while developing the skills employers want.
“Experiences like these are important because they help students grow in ways that go beyond the classroom,” Mr. Wilkey said. “They are building confidence, making industry connections, and learning how to represent themselves and Ball State with professionalism. That benefits our students, and it also continues to strengthen the reputation of our Sales Team and the University.”
