Stephen F. Austin State University

Several Stephen F. Austin State University students recently received national recognition at the 2007 Society for Advancement of Management (SAM) International Conference and Student Case Competition in Las Vegas, Nevada.

James "Garrett" Cope, president of the SFA Chapter of SAM, received both regional and national outstanding student awards. Only 15 university students, nationwide, received the national award.

Cope is graduating in May from SFA with a degree in biology and business. He graduated with honors from Angleton High School.

He credits his success to his parents, Dirk and Liz Cope, for the love and support they showed him growing up. Cope's father worked for DOW chemical until his death in 2001. His mother is a police officer for the Angleton Police Department.

Cope said his father was his mentor and will always be his hero.

Regional outstanding student awards at the SAM business case competition also went to SFA students Justin Wales and Elizabeth Prasil.

The chapter received second place in the Campus Chapter Performance Program, Small Chapter Division. This is the first year the chapter entered this competition, which recognizes the active involvement of the chapter in terms of member growth, member participation, and related activities such as participation in field trips and bringing in guest speakers.

The chapter was also named "platinum sponsor" for 2005-2007, thanks to a $2,000 donation approved by SFA President Dr. Baker Pattillo two years ago, Cope said. Because of the sponsorship, the SFA organization will have a full-page advertisement in SAM's national publication, he said.

The big event for students is the case competition. In 2006, the team from SFA won first place. The team this year did not as well, but gained valuable knowledge that will enable future teams to be better prepared in competition. Team members for this year's competition included Cope, Casey Fitzpatrick, Rosalyn West, Shelby Hayes and Lindsey Prestridge.

A faculty sponsor award went to Mitch Crocker, assistant professor of management, marketing and international business. Cope said Cathy Henderson, another faculty sponsor, also has been instrumental in the organization's success.

Cope said the 45 students who are members of the Society for Advancement of Management meet every other week.

"We're open to people from all areas (of study,) but we're primarily finance, marketing and management majors," he said. "We travel to different companies and meet with human resource managers, operation managers, plant managers, CEOs, labor leaders and other industrial contacts who allow us to tour their workplaces. We build networks to help students get internships and experience in the workplace."

The group also works in the community -- most recently by conducting a drive to collect shoes for those who cannot afford them.

"We recycle cans and paper, and we try to do other things to be good citizens in our community," Cope said.

Cope said these activities helped the chapter win the national award and he hopes this winning trend will continue.