From left, Stefanie Schmidt, Mark Wilson and Melly Ramirez finished second as a team in the Honda CR-Z Media Challenge sponsored by American Honda Motor Company, Inc.

Going Places

• by Charles Bentley
• June 6, 2011

What began as a class project turned into an award-winning effort by three La Verne students as the trio finished second in the national Honda CR-Z Media Challenge sponsored by American Honda Motor Company, Inc. Melly Ramirez, Stefanie Schmidt and Mark Wilson – all business administration majors with marketing concentrations – had their assignment for Professor Constance Rossum’s Integrated Marketing Communications class selected to represent the university in the national media challenge conducted by EdVentures Partners and American Honda.

Their proposal, “Join the CRaZe,” competed against entries from colleges and universities across the country. After making the top 10, the team was given use of a Honda CR-Z Hybrid for six weeks to implement their proposal. In addition to using social media and appearances at public events to generate interest, the students received help of classmates Mandy Yeh, George Bell, Raphy Buenafe, Chris Ruiz, Dominique Koch, Sameer Bhatt, Osman Fuentes, and Paveen Patel, support from College of Business & Public Management Dean Abe Helou and faculty, and the assistance of Sierra Honda in Monrovia. After submitting a final report, the La Verne team was named one of three finalists and made a 45-minute presentation at American Honda’s corporate headquarters in Torrance. Ramirez, Schmidt and Wilson’s presentation earned them a second place finish and virtual internships with Honda during the Spring 2011 semester.

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