The Red Sox weren’t the only team to win big in Boston this fall. A group of URI business students earned first place honors in the case competition at the National Association of Black Accountants’ 29th Annual Minority Conference. The event was sponsored by the association’s Boston Metropolitan Chapter.

They really stood out in the competition, both in the substance of their idea and in their presentation. The judges took notice.

Winning team members are captain Kelechi Agwunobi, a sophomore, senior Kenny Adefiyiju, junior Raven Sannon, and sophomore Kwami Moreno. Their task in the competition was to advise Tufts Medical Center, a stand-alone teaching and research hospital in Boston, how to move into the future. Their idea, which centered on the aging and affluent demographic of the Boston suburbs, was for Tufts Medical to expand into the suburbs.

“They really stood out in the competition, both in the substance of their idea and in their presentation. The judges took notice,” said College of Business Professor Chet Hickox, who worked along with Professor Kathy Jervis to help the team prepare.

Seventeen URI business students belong to the association’s Boston Metropolitan Chapter, and although they have attended the annual conference in the past, this is the first time a team of URI students has participated in competition, which is normally dominated by Boston area business schools such as Babson and Bentley, a fact that makes their win even more gratifying.

Kelechi, who organized the team, attributed the win to hard work, preparation, and the support of Professors Jervis and Hickox. The group spent two weeks prior to the competition working around the clock on their presentation.

“Our first reaction to the win was shock and disbelief,” said Kelechi. “We wanted to do a good job for URI and the College of Business. We didn’t expect to place in the competition, so winning was really satisfying.”

In addition to the winning team, six other URI students attended the conference, including URI sophomore Jose Perales, current student president of the association’s Boston Metropolitan Chapter. The group welcomes students and professionals, and is a leader in expanding the influence of minority professionals in the fields of accounting and finance. Among its goals are to promote and develop the skills of those already in the profession and to encourage and assist minority students in entering the accounting profession.

 

Pictured above:  Kenny Adefiyiju, Raven Sannon, Kelechi Agwunobi, and Kwami Moreno are pictured here with College of Business Dean Mark Higgins at a recent URI Alumni of Color Network event celebrating the students’ first place win at the National Association of Black Accountants Conference in Boston.

Banner photo: Student members of the National Association of Black Accountants and their advisor Professor Chet Hickox.