MACON – Mercer University’s Stetson-Hatcher School of Business was represented by sports marketing and analytics majors in the National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship (NCSSC) Feb. 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Senior Davis Durden of Macon advanced to the Sweet 16, and senior Dolph (Ivy) Nelson of Cartersville reached the round of 32. Both secured interviews with organizations such as the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks, as well as NASCAR.

Freshman Mia Skinner of Warner Robins competed in the speed selling competition and secured a $1,000 scholarship from Living Sport, an organization that provides international internships for sports marketing students.

Mercer’s team in November’s online qualifying round consisted of recent graduate Beau Roberts of Macon and senior Wesley Whetstone of Birmingham, Alabama, along with Durden and Nelson. Nelson placed 12th overall in the qualifier among hundreds of competitors representing dozens of colleges and universities.

“Mercer students have again proven that our Sports Marketing and Analytics program can compete with the best in the nation. I am so proud of this team,” said Dr. Laura Boman, assistant professor of sports marketing and analytics in the School of Business.

NCSSC is an opportunity to showcase sports sales skills in a competitive format and provide an opportunity for students graduating during the current academic year to earn sales jobs in the sports world.

Recruiters, typically consisting of inside sales managers, serve as buyers, while students pitch a product to the buyers. Background information on the product is distributed to students in advance of the competition. A judge scores each student’s performance based on a rubric, and the winning students advance in the competition bracket and earn the opportunity to turn the heads of more recruiters. The competition also provides opportunities throughout the event for students to interview and interact with recruiters.

Recruiters involved in this year’s competition represented organizations such as the Atlanta Hawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders, Taymar, Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, NASCAR, New York Mets, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Detroit Pistons, New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers.

About the School of Business

Established in 1984, Mercer’s School of Business is named for Eugene W. Stetson, a 1901 Mercer graduate and business pioneer who leveraged the first major buyout in corporate history, and his grandson Robert F. (Bob) Hatcher, a Macon businessman, longtime supporter, trustee and former board chair for the University. Over the past 80 years, Mercer has granted over 12,000 business degrees, and many of its graduates hold senior leadership positions in companies around the world. Mercer’s business school delivers career-focused business education in order to develop innovative leaders who are responsible global citizens. It holds accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which places it among the top five percent of all top business schools worldwide. Mercer’s business school has been recognized by the Princeton Review for “Greatest Opportunity for Minority Students” and “Greatest Opportunity for Women” as well as being one of its “Best Business Schools.” In addition, it has been recognized among the “Top 15 Schools in the Nation for Marketing and Accounting.” The School offers the following programs: Atlanta (Evening and Online BBA, Full-Time (Day) MBA, Evening MBA, Online MBA, Master of Accountancy, M.S. in Business Analytics), Macon (Traditional BBA, Evening MBA, Health Care MBA, and Innovation MBA), Henry County (Evening BBA). For more information, visit business.mercer.edu.