Judges pose with the winning team of NABA students

Judges pose with the winning team of NABA students, who delivered a powerful case to induct Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth into the Hall of Fame.

As one of Michigan State University’s events to observe Black History Month, students partook in the annual Multicultural Heroes Hall of Fame Case Competition.

Launched in 2002, the competition challenges students to work in groups and build cases to induct influential, diverse leaders into MSU’s Multicultural Heroes Hall of Fame. Students presented their cases before a panel of faculty judges on Feb. 15, which this year included Kathy Petroni, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education and the Deloitte/Michael Licata Professor of Accounting in The Eli Broad College of Business; Lee June, Honors College professor; and Paulette Granberry Russell, advisor to President LouAnna K. Simon for Diversity, and director of MSU’s Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives.

The student teams represented a diverse cross-section of MSU students from College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Lyman Briggs, College of Natural Science, College of Social Science, Eli Broad College of Business, College of Arts and Letters, College of Education, Charles Drew Science Scholars, and the Honors College.

Walking away with first place and the $2,000 cash prize was the team of National Association of Black Accountants from the Broad College of Business: Jalen Burks (BA Business Preference ’20), Imani Cole (BA Business Preference ’20), and Malik Mix (BA Business ’19). The team delivered a powerful presentation on Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, who worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to end segregation in Alabama. Their presentation detailed how the two leaders used nonviolent protests to make an impact and achieve a tremendous milestone in the Civil Rights Movement. Rev. Shuttlesworth was ceremoniously inducted into the Multicultural Hall of Fame following the competition.

Earning second place was the team that presented Nelson Mandela, and included team members Raven Jefferson Brinkley (BA Packaging ’19), Jared Davis (Integrative Studies in Social Science ’18), and Keith K. Frierson (BA Business ’19).

Earning third place team was the team presenting Sojourner Truth, American abolitionist and Women’s Rights Activist are, and included Emettra Nelson (BA Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Education, ’17), Camri Nelson (BA Arts and Humanities ’18), and Ja’Del Hughes Davis (BA Chemical Engineering, ’17).

Multicultural Business Programs and Altria Group Distribution Company sponsor the competition.