Utah Valley University’s Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) student team earned first place at the 2025 Utah SHRM Case Competition, hosted on UVU’s own campus. The win continues a strong tradition of success for UVU, which has regularly placed among the top teams since 2018.

Two UVU teams participated in this year’s event, showcasing not only their business acumen but also a deep sense of camaraderie. “I’ve got a photo from the announcement of both UVU teams, and the person celebrating at the table wasn’t even on the winning team—he was cheering for his colleagues,” said Rod Lacey, professional-in-residence at the Woodbury School of Business. “That kind of support is what makes the UVU community so special.”

Lacey played a pivotal role in mentoring the teams, guiding students through case analysis, presentation development, and real-world applications of human resource strategy.

The winning team featured three standout students:

• Emma Hunt, a senior in Human Resource Management, competing for the first time

• Braxton Smithson, a senior returning for his second SHRM competition

• Joseph Robertson, a Business and Analysis student transitioning into HR, bringing fresh perspective to the team

In addition to top honors, the team received a $1,000 prize and recognition from SHRM, the world’s largest HR professional society.

The competition tasked students with analyzing a complex HR case and presenting solutions that balanced legal compliance, ethical considerations, and business needs. Over the course of one week, the UVU team developed an executive summary and a 15-minute presentation defending their recommendations.

“We focused on keeping it simple—identifying the core issue and solving it well,” said Robertson. “It might be cliché, but teamwork really did make the dream work.”

The team balanced rigorous preparation with full course loads and extracurriculars. They divided the case into segments, collaborated on refinements, and spent the final days rehearsing and preparing for the judge Q&A. Their Employment Law coursework proved particularly valuable.

“There was a balancing act of creating policies that were both comprehensive and practical,” said Hunt. “We wanted solutions that protected employees and allowed the organization to function effectively.”

Presenting to a panel of SHRM-certified professionals, students received real-time feedback under high-pressure conditions. “The greatest challenge is thinking on your feet,” said Smithson. “You can’t anticipate every question, so you have to stay sharp and respond quickly and clearly.”

Beyond the competition, UVU’s SHRM Student Chapter offers students experiential learning, career preparation, and networking with HR professionals. Open to all majors, the chapter encourages students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios.

“It enhances your education and adds real-world pressure,” Lacey noted. “Everybody walks away saying, ‘I wish I could do this again.’ It’s just fun.”

For the winning team, the experience was both validating and unforgettable. “It was a rewarding moment to say, ‘We did this,’” said Hunt. “We’re proud of the work we put forward.”

With this victory, UVU’s SHRM chapter reaffirms its commitment to preparing the next generation of HR leaders—equipped with knowledge, experience, and purpose.