Lindsey Wilson University Business Students Land in the Top Five in National Competition

second place winners Three teams of Lindsey Wilson students earned second-, third- and fourth-place finishes in CapSource’s Live Case Competition, a national business case competition that challenges students to develop solutions to real-world industry problems.

More than 40 teams submitted written proposals exploring how to use artificial intelligence and point-of-care ultrasound technology to improve maternal healthcare outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in underserved and remote communities.

The finalists presented their business solutions via Zoom to the Inteleos Foundation, a real-world organization with a mission to improve access to ultrasounds and preventative medicine for expecting mothers in underserved parts of the world.

Students were expected to think like consultants and propose strategies to solve the problem for the sponsoring organization. Seven of the 12 teams selected to compete in the final round were from Lindsey Wilson.

The Lindsey Wilson team that placed second overall included Aaron Shain, an interdisciplinary studies junior of Scottsville, Kentucky; Blane Bardin, a business administration freshman of Columbia; Zane Gist, a business administration sophomore of Columbia; and Luke Popplewell, a business administration freshman of Russell Springs, Kentucky.

“Everyone on our team is from rural Kentucky,” said Popplewell. “Seeing the issues these families go through when trying to have a child is unimaginable to think about in the United States. Finding adequate prenatal or preventative healthcare is nearly impossible because in many cases, the midwives are illiterate.”

Lindsey Wilson business professor Cathy Boatright, who advised the student groups composed mostly of underclassmen, said it is especially noteworthy that the Lindsey Wilson teams competed against primarily seniors and graduate students.

“This is remarkable on its own,” said Boatright. “But it is exceptional considering the concept was designed for upperclassmen and grad students. The teams worked hard and I'm so proud of them.”

The team finishing third included business administration seniors Clinton Eales of South Africa and Nada Jalal of Supply, North Carolina; and business administration sophomores Nathalie Medina of Venezuela and William Rowe of Columbia.

The team finishing fourth included business administration junior Emerson McKinnis of Auburn, Kentucky; business administration sophomore McKenna English of Evansville, Indiana; and business administration sophomore Camryn Judd of Louisville.

Pictured:

Lindsey Wilson University business students land in the top five in national competition. The Lindsey Wilson team that placed second overall included, from left: Luke Popplewell, a business administration freshman of Russell Springs, Kentucky; Aaron Shain, an interdisciplinary studies junior of Scottsville, Kentucky; Blane Bardin, a business administration freshman of Columbia; and Zane Gist, a business administration sophomore of Columbia.