MARS Apprentice launches competition

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/apprentice_logo2.jpg” caption=”The MARS Apprentice competition will test the business skills of McMaster students.”]The MARS Apprentice 2008 competition kicked off yesterday with its opening ceremonies. For the next two months, two teams of students will participate in case challenges sponsored by four internship companies: JAN Kelley Marketing, Frito-Lay Canada, Maple Leaf Canada and RBC Financial Group.

They will be competing for a one-year scholarship from Canadian Tire Financial Services. Consulting services and resources will be provided by Xerox Canada, Cheryl Breukelman & Associates and new partner RIM.

The competition, which involves students in real-life business challenges, began with a “warm-up” challenge from the City of Hamilton. The teams were given the task of creating a marketing plan to clean up the city.

As the two teams begin strategizing, their creative juices will continue to flow around the clock for the next six weeks until the end of the competition, when one lucky team will hear the magic words: “You're hired.”