Georgia Southern University student sales team defends Speed Sell title at national competition

Five students from Georgia Southern University’s Parker College of Business competed against teams from around the world in the 28th annual National Collegiate Sales Competition (NCSC), held in Atlanta.

The Georgia Southern team included Ana Giddens, Tyler Goddard, Lucas Schultz, Katie Smith and Joseph Tarwater, all representing the University’s Center for Sales Excellence.

One of 72 schools represented in the competition, Georgia Southern’s student team was the only University with two students to win first place in their division.

“The best-of-the-best from our sales program represent Georgia Southern University each year at the National Collegiate Sales Competition,” said Travis Brickey, senior lecturer of marketing and director of the Center for Sales Excellence. “I appreciate the support from the Parker College of Business administration and Assistant Professor of Marketing John Galvan, Ph.D., who helped coach NCSC for the first time in 2026. I’m extremely proud of the grit and perseverance shown by Tyler, Katie, Lucas, Ana and Joseph. These are all great students who earned the right to represent their University at the Super Bowl of all sales competitions.”

In the Speed Selling competition, Giddens, Goddard and Smith competed against nearly 200 students in a non-scripted, 90-second elevator pitch. In a single opportunity, the students had to deliver a pitch and sell it to no more than three companies. The students were evaluated on their introductions, ability to engage attention, company knowledge, communication skills and professionalism while pitching to multiple companies.

Goddard won first place in his simulated meeting with the insurance company Unum. Smith also won first place in her simulated meeting with food product supplier Bunzl Processor Division.

“I feel extremely privileged to have the opportunity to represent Parker College of Business and the Georgia Southern Sales Center at the 2026 NCSC,” said Smith, a junior marketing major with an emphasis in sales and sales management. “NCSC provided me with the opportunity to meet so many other sales students and the chance to network with so many talented individuals. This was a very rewarding experience, and I look forward to my next opportunity to represent my university on a national stage.”

In the Sales Role-Play competition, Schultz and Tarwater faced more than 140 individual student competitors in a mock 20-minute sales scenario, where they represented Gartner Inc. The students sold actual Gartner solutions to a fictitious buyer under real-life conditions.

Hosted annually, the NCSC is considered the premier collegiate sales competition, bringing together students, faculty and industry professionals for networking and competition.