WHAT:
While many of their classmates are tailgating for the Detroit Tigers’ home opener, a select group of Wayne State University business students will board a shuttle downtown — but they won’t be wearing baseball caps. Instead, they’ll be dressed to impress as they vie for $1,750 in scholarship money in the first-ever Mike Ilitch School of Business Elevator Pitch Competition, practicing their opening lines on Detroit executives in the Renaissance Center elevators.
The students have 90 seconds — the time it takes to reach the Coach Insignia from the ground floor — to give an “elevator speech” about themselves, describing their education, skills and career aspirations. Executives from Quicken Loans, PwC, Blue Cross Blue Shield, GM and Ford will evaluate the students on their ability to sell themselves and present a positive, professional first impression. Three winners will receive scholarships of $1,000, $500 or $250.
WHEN:
Friday, April 8, 2016, 10 a.m. to noon
Beginning at 10 a.m., each student will ride the elevator up with one executive, then down with another. The top five students after the elevator rounds will pitch all judges in a boardroom setting. Prizes will be awarded around noon.
WHERE:
Detroit Renaissance Center; meet in the GM Wintergarden
MEDIA:
For more information or to attend the event, please contact:
Steve Townsend
Director of Marketing and Communications
Mike Ilitch School of Business
313-577-0202
smtownsend@wayne.edu
For onsite media requests the day of the event, please contact:
Michelle Strunge
Marketing Coordinator
Mike Ilitch School of Business
248-935-9910
mstrunge@wayne.edu
The Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business prepares students for challenging and rewarding careers, advances the boundaries of scholarly and practitioner knowledge, and enhances the economic vitality of the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan and beyond through its programs, research and community engagement. Established in 1946, the business school was renamed in 2015 in recognition of a $40 million gift from Mike and Marian Ilitch. Thanks to this lead investment, a new state-of-the-art building is slated to open in the heart of the District Detroit in 2018, and entrepreneurial programming and collaboration with city businesses are expanding. For more information, visit ilitchbusiness.wayne.edu.