Instead of bead necklaces, Cal Poly Pomona marketing management students returned from New Orleans with top honors in the exhibit display competition against some of the nation's top universities.

Fourteen students from the College of Business Administration competed against nearly 1,500 peers from more than 200 institutions at the American Marketing Association's 39th Annual International Collegiate Conference on March 16-18.

"It was the first time we participated in the exhibit competition and didn't expect to win," says Candace Erie, chapter president and marketing management major. "Our goal now is to let classmates know how big an event it is and what it means to do well in New Orleans."

Team members built an exhibit based on the popular TV series "Stranger Things." Entrance to the exhibit and the chance to win prizes required attendees to correctly answer questions related to marketing concepts as well as complete activities that embraced the theme "Power in Connections."

In addition to the exhibit display award, the Cal Poly Pomona chapter of AMA also earned the top prize for its "Marketing Week" event in the fall 2016 quarter. Students had to submit a paper outlining activities that would promote AMA and its mission. Events included a marketing strategy competition, community service at Matt's Run, a barbeque to raise AMA awareness and a social night at the movies.

Erie says that chapter members were required to participate in at least one competition at the conference, which drew universities that included Penn State, the University of Wisconsin and Temple University. Contests ranged from visual-based exercises to tests of technical knowledge.

"It's a mixer of marketing minds from all over the country and you get to see how you stack up," says Anthony Flach, AMA's external vice president. "Preparing for the competition, you work with professors and build a closer relationship. You gain insight not offered inside of the classroom."