The DeGroote School of Business had a strong showing at the MBA Games held at Laval University in Quebec City earlier this year, finishing fourth overall.

The DeGroote team, made up of 40 students, claimed second place in the marketing case competition, second in overall spirit and third in the ethics competition.

More than 600 MBA students from 20 universities across Canada competed in this year's Games, which revolved around the theme of ethics and leadership.

DeGroote student Derek Chan, who was also a member of the MBA Games organizing committee, said that "representing DeGroote on the national level allowed our students to reinforce the fact that McMaster has one of the top MBA programs in Canada. DeGroote's team cohesion, school pride, and competitive spirit were unparalleled in all aspects of the MBA Games."

The MBA Games is a national competition that brings together MBA students from across Canada. The Games originated more than 20 years ago at Queen's University. There are three major areas of competition: academic, athletic, and spirit.

The students were supported by a team of DeGroote faculty who helped them prepare in the months leading up to the competition. Faculty advisors included Dean Paul Bates, Terry Flynn, Peter Vilks, Khaled Hassanein and Ed Minich.

MBA Association president Mark Stewart, who also participated with DeGroote's team at the Games, said that the case simulations run by DeGroote professors in advance of the competition resulted in the excellent results of the case teams.

"Case competition competitors had exactly three intense hours to read and analyze their cases and prepare for presentations in front of academics and industry experts. DeGroote professors have helped prepare students for this type of challenge throughout their MBA experience by teaching them the connections between classroom lessons and applied business skills," explains Stewart.

DeGroote has a strong history at the MBA Games. The School was the national champion in 2007, after placing second in 2002. Students also won the marketing case in 2006. DeGroote hosted the MBA Games, which is the largest gathering of MBA students in Canada, in 2008.

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