Naperville's Maci Yelaska named a winner in college marketing competition

Twenty-four students from Creighton and Drake universities contended to win the ninth annual Murphy Cup Marketing Strategy Competition, a top marketing competition that provides real-world experience by giving students the opportunity to interact with a corporate client and present them with marketing strategies.

This year's corporate client is rapidly growing, Omaha-based Scooter's Coffee, whose brand promise is: “Amazing People, Amazing Drinks… Amazingly Fast!®” It represents the company's business origins from 1998 and reflects a steady commitment to providing an unforgettable experience to loyal and new customers. Scooter's Coffee is at the dawn of a strategic growth phase nationwide with nearly 400 stores in 23 states.

Past corporate clients participating in the Murphy Cup include NIKE, Yahoo!, Union Pacific & Loup Logistics, Kiewit Corporation, UnitedHealth Group, Meredith Corporation and its Better Homes & Gardens division.

The Murphy Cup is the brainchild of Chris Murphy, an alumnus of Drake and a Creighton University board of trustees member. He introduced the competition to the schools to provide an unforgettable undergraduate experience that allows students to work collaboratively with each other and a client. The Murphy Cup alternates each year between host universities, this year being at Creighton.

“Experiential learning fortifies theory learned in the classroom,” said Anthony Hendrickson, Ph.D., dean of Creighton's Heider College of Business.

“The Murphy Cup weekend is unique. Not only does it reinforce course work content, it also allows students to master these concepts in an atmosphere of collaboration and intellectual exchange.”

The competition consisted of six four-student teams, each nominated by their professors. The teams collaborated on a case study to establish a strategic marketing solution for Scooter's Coffee.

“Scooter's Coffee was honored to be part of a strong academic tradition that is the Murphy Cup,” said Bill Black, chief marketing officer at Scooter's Coffee. “We enjoyed working closely with the students and faculty, who provided a strategic and creative marketing solution.”

The other Scooter's Coffee executives who were advisers in the competition are Creighton alumna Kelly Crummer, senior director of franchise recruitment; Scott Eastman, creative director; and Mel Maryott, director of product marketing.

The top performing teams were recognized, and four individual awards were given:

• Team Champions: Maci Yelaska of Naperville, Illinois (Creighton); Jane Farmer of St. Louis, Missouri (Drake); Dany Guerra of Cumming, Georgia (Creighton); and Louis Luong of Irvine, California (Drake).

• Team Runners-up: Brian Etzenhouser of Overland Park, Kansas (Drake); Nina Bastian of Omaha, Nebraska (Creighton); Katie McClintic of Des Moines, Iowa (Drake); and Anthony Alvarado of Stillwater, Minnesota (Creighton).

• Most Outstanding Presenter: Jane Farmer of St. Louis, Missouri (Drake)

• Most Creative Contributor: Jack Hansen-Reed of Bellevue, Nebraska (Creighton)

• Most Knowledgeable: Max Hoxie of Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Drake)

• Most Effective Leader: Katie McClintic of Des Moines, Iowa (Drake)

“Congratulations to each of the participants nominated because of their academic performance and dedication,” said Matt Seevers, Ph.D., associate dean of undergraduate programs in Creighton's Heider College of Business. “The opportunity for these students to work together and challenge themselves is of unmatched value during their undergraduate experience. We are grateful to our alumni and friends at Scooter's Coffee, who generously donate their time and expertise with our students and future marketing professionals.”

About Scooter's Coffee: Founded in 1998 by Don and Linda Eckles in Bellevue, Nebraska, Scooter's Coffee roasts only the finest coffee beans in the world at its headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. In more than two decades of business, Scooter's Coffee's success is simple: stay committed to the original business principles and company's four core values, which are Integrity, Love, Humility and Courage. The Scooter's Coffee Brand Promise, often recited to franchisees, customers and employees is: “Amazing People, Amazing Drinks… Amazingly Fast!” It represents the company's business origins from 1998 and reflects a steady commitment to providing an unforgettable experience to loyal and new customers.

Scooter's Coffee is at the dawn of a strategic growth phase nationwide. With nearly 400 stores in 23 states, the company continues to grow rapidly. The U.S. coffee market is an estimated $48 billion a year recession-resistant industry, and Scooter's Coffee is striving to become the #1 drive-thru coffee franchise in the nation. Visit ownascooters.com to learn more about the benefits of owning a franchise of a well-established company.

About Creighton University: Creighton University, founded in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1878, is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. The Omaha campus has more than 8,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students among nine schools and colleges. No other university its size offers students such a comprehensive academic environment with personal attention from faculty-mentors. The new health sciences campus in Phoenix, which will accommodate more than 900 students, is the largest expansion outside of Omaha in Creighton's history and positions the University as the largest Catholic educator of health professionals in the country. Creighton is ranked in the top third of National Universities by U.S. News & World Report.