Post by Anna Waldron

I’m proud to share that we recently wrapped up the AMA X Chicken on a Stick Case Competiton that we built entirely from the ground up. 🩵 This process went far beyond execution. Our team began by developing the case itself, identifying a meaningful problem, structuring the challenge, and designing something that would genuinely push participants to think critically and creatively. From there, we moved into the planning and coordination required to successfully bring the event to life. One of the most rewarding aspects was our partnership with a local business, Chicken on a Stick. Working directly with them allowed us to create a case rooted in real operational and growth challenges, while also giving participants the opportunity to develop practical, applicable solutions. It was important to me that this partnership felt intentional and well integrated, so I focused on clearly communicating its purpose and ensuring our members understood how it connected to the broader vision of the event. We also introduced a mentorship component, where each member of our executive board worked closely with one to two teams throughout the competition. This created a more supportive and structured experience for participants. I stayed present across all group chats as a central point of contact, making sure communication remained consistent and that every team had access to the same level of guidance. Throughout the entire process, I placed a strong emphasis on communication within our executive board. I worked to clearly outline expectations, break down responsibilities, and maintain alignment so that we could execute efficiently. After a competitive round of presentations, we selected three winning teams. I’m incredibly proud of every participant for the level of effort and thought they brought to this experience. Thank you all for your commitment to AMA, and for all the work you did! I also want to recognize my executive board for the work they did behind the scenes. While our Professional Development Director and I remained in the competition room, the rest of the team ensured that the pre and post event spaces ran smoothly. Their attention to detail made a significant difference in how seamless and professional the event felt. This was one of the most time intensive and detail oriented events we’ve held, and it truly reflected a collective effort. I’m grateful to everyone who contributed or participated and to Chicken on a Stick for partnering with us. Anna Grace Stys Kyndal Coleman Hannah Grace Johnson Alexis Santos Juliette Methot Lauren McKay Chance Gerald Sydney Durdov Riley Beyer Peyton Cochran Gianna Michalik Lucas Sheehan Addison Seifert Ava Ford Aliana Duran Kaitlyn Sobocinski Evan Sageser Stephanie Young Katelyn York Andrew Coffee Chelsea Blair Jenna Martin Emma Owens Gabriella Cason Emerson McBride Evan Richelson Madeline Bowman Tyler Sperry Grace Page Angela Duda Taia McGinnis - AMA - University of South Carolina