Advertising and Marketing students are the #BestInBlue

Keith Barnwell accepts Award of excellence at Blue Mountain during OCMC 2014 (Photo courtesy of Jon Jones)

STORY BY WILL DIXON

Sheridan College took the gold at the Ontario College Marketing Competition last weekend.

The OCMC is a marketing contest in which 13 colleges across Ontario compete in 11 events for trophies and bragging rights. Georgian College hosted the event this year at Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood. Sheridan has won in previous years, most recently in 2010 and 2012.

“We generally do quite well,” said Lorraine Cipparrone, an Advertising and Marketing professor at Sheridan. “It’s a fierce competition. People fear Sheridan, and I like that.”

Sheridan, which used the hashtag Best In Blue during the event, won with a total of 53 points. Humber College followed closely behind with 51. “It was really close,” said Cipparrone. “We took [gold] in the last two events.”

Sunaynna Venkatesh “got the job” during the job interview event, while Brody Langley made the winning pitch during the sales presentation event. Brody was tasked with selling a bar’s ad space to Diageo, a company owning brand names such as Smirnoff and Baileys.

“We only won because of our instructors,” said Aidan Hodge, an Advertising and Marketing student who attended OCMC. “The community OCMC has is a really good environment. It was really conducive to learning and growing.” Most who went would definitely recommend fellow students take part.

“Any business student needs to apply to this,” said Troy Zaffino, an Advertising and Marketing student who took first place in pitch prospecting. “This is the best experience. This is experience that I’ve taken and used in the classroom and used in my real life. I’ve learned so much.” The OCMC is mainly available to second year Advertising and Marketing students, as the rigorous selection process takes place in April.

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“It really reflects the calibre of Sheridan students,” said Karen Booth, another Advertising and Marketing professor. “It highlights the hard work and focus of our students.”

Keith Barnwell, an Advertising and Marketing professor, nicknamed the OCMC Quiz Master, was recognized for his hard work at the OCMC with the award for excellence.

“Anyone who wins [the award of excellence] doesn’t think they’re worthy enough,” said Barnwell. When his name was announced, he choked on his sip of wine. Barnwell coughed his way up to the stage. “Not much brings me to tears, but that did,” he said. “It’s quite nice being recognized by those around you.”

Barnwell stepped up last year to host the quiz bowl, a Jeopardy! style event, when the scheduled host was unable to do so, said Cipparrone. This year Barnwell had been asked in advance to host the quiz bowl.