News

Arizona Western Business Club earns second place at state competition

April 27, 2026

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Phoenix, Ariz. (April 27, 2026) – On April 10, 2026, four teams from the Arizona Western Business Club traveled to the University of Arizona Eller School of Business to compete in the annual Arizona Community College Excellence (ACCE) Case Competition, where one team advanced to win second place overall.

The students spent months practicing for the competition, which challenges Arizona’s community college students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world business situations presented by an actual company. AWC faculty and community members played a key role in the students’ preparation, developing mock business scenarios to strengthen their problem-solving, teamwork, and analytical thinking skills.

“Attending the University of Arizona ACCE Business Competition provides an exceptional opportunity for AWC business students to bridge the gap between theory and practice,” shared Dr. Kristine Duke, Professor of Accounting and AWBC club advisor. “Through this event, students apply concepts learned in the classroom while sharpening their critical thinking, communication, and presentation skills. Each year, participants develop valuable competencies that translate directly to real-world career success. Over the past seven years, it has been rewarding to watch students grow—gaining hands-on experience, enhancing their technical and analytical abilities, building professional networks, and developing confidence in their abilities.”

AWBC would like to thank numerous faculty and community members who helped contribute to the students’ preparation, including Dr. Michelle Sims, Professor of Economics; Mark Sims, Professor of Homeland Security; Gladys Brown, Yuma International Airport Director; John Hessinger, Professor of Speech and Yuma Better Business Bureau Director; Leslie Fain, Operations Director for Visit Yuma; and Dr. Kristine Duke.

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Contact:
Dr. Kristine Duke
Professor of Accounting
Arizona Western College
kristine.duke@azwestern.edu
(928) 344-7783