Four students from the University of North Texas (UNT) recently showcased their human
resources expertise at the Texas SHRM Student Competition and Conference, held at
the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD).
Ezra Poch, Alexis Rucker, Jericha Brock and Isabela Hunt-Riley formed a dynamic team
that secured an impressive third place among eight teams representing different universities
across Texas.
The competition involved analyzing a case study that simulated real-world HR challenges
faced by a company. The team was presented with background information on the company's
issues and was tasked with developing innovative solutions to address the situation.
"The goal of the competition was to help us understand the practical aspects of the
HR field we will soon enter, while also encouraging us to propose new ideas and approaches
to solve problems," explained Brock, an integrated studies major with a focus on human
resources and entrepreneurship.
The competition served as a valuable opportunity to bridge the gap between classroom
learning and real-life HR scenarios.
"These competitions allow us to put the information we learn into practice," Brock
stated. "It's fascinating to see different perspectives and hear my teammates' insights
throughout the process."
The team's success was attributed to their diverse backgrounds and expertise in HR.
With different levels of education and specific HR focuses, their collective knowledge
brought a fresh perspective to problem-solving.
Brock noted that even though there were different viewpoints, they were all applicable
to the case at hand—and she attributed her own success in the competition to the foundational
knowledge she gained from Professor Aguilars' human resource course. The course covered
a wide range of HR topics and provided the necessary tools for approaching case studies
like the one presented in the competition.