Central Wisconsin News

Three students from Mid-State Technical College's Digital Marketing program have achieved notable success by ranking in the top 10 percent globally in a simulation competition hosted by Marketplace Simulations. This platform is widely used by educational institutions to evaluate marketing strategy skills.

Morgan Breese, a recent graduate from Plover, led her class with remarkable scorecard results. Haley Epstein, another May graduate from Wisconsin Rapids, earned second place among her peers at Mid-State. Amber Hollatz of Marshfield, who is expected to graduate in December, secured third place.

The students participated in this challenging simulation as part of their capstone course. The exercise involved managing a virtual international 3D bike company and required them to demonstrate proficiency across various business areas such as financial outcomes, marketing effectiveness, market share, brand investment, and value creation.

Debby Wallner, a marketing and business instructor at Mid-State, remarked on the significance of the achievement: “This simulation is the ultimate test of a student’s ability to apply what they’ve learned throughout the program,” she said. “Placing in the top ten percent globally is a testament to their hard work, problem-solving ability, business acumen and drive. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Wallner highlighted how the competitive aspect of the simulation engages students deeply: “By the end, students are so invested in the process they forget it’s part of a class. Their performance proves they’re ready to excel in the digital marketing field.”

The Marketplace Live simulation challenges participants to develop and implement comprehensive business strategies within a dynamic and competitive environment over a simulated two-year business cycle. Students must make decisions regarding pricing, product promotion, demand forecasting, staffing for international sales offices and more while integrating knowledge from their academic studies.

Marketplace Simulations provides over 30 simulations designed for university-level education and executive training programs worldwide. It allows learners to explore various business strategies and test decision-making processes without real-world risks.

For more information about Mid-State’s Digital Marketing program, visit mstc.edu/programs.