The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has made a significant mark in the global arena of digital marketing. Out of approximately 200 undergraduate student teams competing in the Spring 2024 Digital Marketing Competition, four Shidler College of Business teams placed in the top 13, including one among the top four finalists and one as an alternate into the finals.
The goal of the competition was to produce a digital marketing strategy for a selected client. This semester’s client is LuvSeats, an online event ticketing company. In the first round, teams produced an 8-minute video summary of the campaign that was judged by industry professionals based on several criteria, including market research, paid strategy, owned strategy and media evaluation. Four teams advanced to the finals on April 14 and will present their strategies directly to LuvSeats’ management and executive team.
The members of the Shidler college finalist team are Sebastian Kim, Lea Marie Navales, Jordan Paradis, Miyamora Rosenthal and team leader Kaya Ishimine.
“We are grateful to have made it to the final round of the Digital Marketing Competition knowing that the competition would be tough and that our entire class has been working toward this all semester,” Ishimine said. “Our team looks forward to giving it our all on April 14th to represent UH Mānoa well. With all of us being seniors, it’ll be a great experience and a way to leave our mark.”
A Shidler college team led by Matthew Dufale finished as the first alternate into the finals, and teams led by Kaycee Nakashima and Lauren Nakashima finished 11th and 13th, respectively.
UH’s continued success in digital marketing
In spring 2023, Shidler college teams won first place in the undergraduate division and second place in the graduate division. If a Shidler college team wins again in 2024, it would mark the third time since 2020 that a UH Mānoa undergraduate team has claimed the top spot in this competition, and fourth overall award. The UH Mānoa teams have been under the supervision and coaching of Shidler college Instructor Constancio Paranal III.
“As the April 14 presentation date approaches, the entire University of Hawaiʻi community eagerly anticipates the outcome, extending their best wishes to the talented students representing the institution on the global stage,” Paranal III said. “With their exceptional skills and dedication, these students exemplify the spirit of international excellence and innovation that defines the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business.”
The competition is hosted by Purdue University Northwest.