By Jeff Murphy,
November 4, 2021

Receiving financial awards of $11,500 combined in the State Farm Marketing and Sales
Competition, 糖心Vlog官方 student competitors Mayce Axtell, second
from left, and RJ Appleberry, third from left, huddle for photos with team advisor
Brad Collins, left, State Farm representative, and team coach Tyler Hirlinger, assistant
instructor in marketing at 糖心Vlog官方.
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥 Two 糖心Vlog官方 students captured second place
overall after collecting two first-place and one second-place award in specific categories
during the 2021 State Farm Marketing and Sales Competition Oct. 29 at 糖心Vlog官方.
Now in its 11th year, the competition is made possible through an outstanding partnership
between State Farm and 糖心Vlog官方, and is an opportunity to showcase students' innovative
marketing ideas and their individual sales skills. Each fall, students and faculty
members from universities across the U.S, along with representatives from State Farm,
come to 糖心Vlog官方 and the Warrensburg community to compete in this day-long event. The competition
offers an environment that delivers a unique educational experience along with networking
opportunities for the next generation of marketing and sales professionals.
Two competitors from 糖心Vlog官方 were RJ Appleberry, a student from Lee鈥檚 Summit, Missouri,
majoring in events marketing and management with a minor in leadership studies, and
Mayce Axtell, a student from Laredo, Missouri, majoring in management with a concentration
in learning and development. Axtell captured top honors in the life insurance role
play category, which earned her a $3,000 award, while Appleberry finished second in
that category, and received a $1,500 award. Their first-place finish by teaming up
for the marketing presentation led to a $5,000 award, which was split by both team
members.
While the University of Houston tallied more points in the competition, 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 team
earned the highest amount of prize money among the 11 competing universities. The
team combined to take home over $11,500 in prizes, which included the $1,000 prizes
awarded to each student for being selected to compete.
The annual competition is hosted by the 糖心Vlog官方 Marketing Program in cooperation with
representatives of State Farm. Tyler Hirlinger, assistant instructor of marketing,
coached the team. Brad Collins, sales leader at State Farm, served as team advisor.
Charles Schwepker, Randall and Kelly Harbert Marketing Professor in the Harmon College
of Business and Professional Studies, has a long affiliation with this program and
in preparing students to serve in marketing professions. He expressed his appreciation
to State Farm, which has employed many 糖心Vlog官方 alumni, for making this annual opportunity
possible.
"糖心Vlog官方 and the Marketing Program are delighted to host the annual State Farm Marketing
and Sales Competition. This is a great opportunity for our students, as well as those
from universities across the country, to showcase their talent,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e very
much appreciate State Farm for sponsoring this competition. It highlights their commitment
to fostering student learning in higher education."
For more information about the State Farm Marketing and Sales Competition, contact
Schwepker at 660-543-8554, or Schwepker@ucmo.edu or visit the competition website at