SUNY Potsdam Students Win Two Trophies at International Business Ethics Case Competition

SUNY Potsdam Business Administration Student Team Wins Honors at International Business Ethics Case Competition in Los Angeles

Potsdam, NY (04/30/2026) — Four SUNY Potsdam students drove from campus early one cold morning in April to catch a flight in Syracuse to Los Angeles to participate in the Intercollegiate International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition (IBESCC). They arrived on a sunny warm afternoon in southern California. They had mixed emotions along the way, because this was a new experience for each of the students.

"I could tell that the students felt a bit of anxiety about the entire experience, but they had an inner confidence, because they did thorough research of the ethical business problem, practiced many times, and a desire to make SUNY Potsdam proud," said Professor of Business Administration Dr. Edwin J. Portugal (Hon. '23), who served as the academic advisor.

The team competed in a field of 59 teams representing 41 universities in seven countries, with more than 270 total participants, as well as more than 85 judges reviewing 42 divisions. Teams were assigned different divisions and competed in three different categories.

The first category was a full 25-minute presentation of a business problem, including an analysis of the ethical, sustainable, legal and financial aspects of the issue, and a viable solution on all fronts. The second was an abbreviated 10-minute presentation in which teams incorporated suggestions given by judges during the 25-minute presentation, expanding on the ethical aspect of the business case. The last category was a quick 90-second elevator pitch explaining the importance of one or more of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals.

The SUNY Potsdam team won a first-place trophy in the 90-second elevator pitch, and a runner-up trophy in the 25-minute full presentation of the ethical quandary and solutions.

SUNY Potsdam's Department of Business Administration was represented by:

• Chloe Cromp '28 of Malone, NY
• Jaidan Kertenis '26 of Hampden, MA
• Matthew Mapes '27 of Colorado Springs, CO
• Jayden Murphy '27 of North Babylon, NY

The team chose the current controversial ethical issue of "teenage addiction to TikTok," looking at the long hours teenagers can spend scrolling through algorithmic social media, which has been found to lead to low self-esteem, low attention span, lack of focus, lowered school grades, and even in one instance, injury or death related to dangerous viral challenges. The team recommended reducing the promotion of harmful content, revising its algorithm in enforcing screen-time limits for younger users, holding creators accountable for mental health-related content, enhancing transparency through independent oversight, and exploring more diverse revenue streams beyond just engagement-based advertising. By taking these steps, the team added that TikTok can address these issues while boosting its ethical corporate social responsibility, legal standing, and long-term financial health.

"The SUNY Potsdam team researched the topic throughout the semester and wrote a research paper, prepared the PowerPoint slides, and practiced the presentations for the full 25 minutes, abbreviated 10 minutes, and fast paced 90-second elevator pitch," said Dr. Portugal. "The judges in the in-person competition held in the Loyola Marymount University campus were ethics compliance officers, business owners and executives, and business ethics professors. A judge commented that this year's presentations were at a higher level compared to previous years."

The team was formed from among students in Portugal's business ethics course in the Spring 2026 semester. The team members had to hold team meetings in class and in the library, explore possible ethical issues, pick one that they were interested in researching, write a term paper, and come up with compelling presentations. The team practiced several times while still in Potsdam, and later in Los Angeles before the competition -- including everywhere from the hotel lobby, to their hotel rooms, and in a classroom at the LMU campus.

'I am immensely proud of Matthew, Chloe, Jaidan and Jayden for their extraordinary performance and the professionalism they displayed on an international stage. Their success in securing both a first-place trophy and a runner-up finish against universities from around the world is a testament to their dedication and the high caliber of our students," said Interim Dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies Jaime Cruikshank '92 & '97. "This achievement is a perfect realization of SUNY Potsdam's strategic plan, which prioritizes the engagement of high impact practices. This competition serves as a truly authentic, experiential learning opportunity, requiring our students to move beyond the classroom to research, analyze and present solutions for a complex, real-world ethical issue."

Dean Cruikshank added: "I also want to congratulate Dr. Edwin Portugal for his exceptional mentorship. His commitment to providing these high impact experiences is what enables our students to develop the confidence and critical thinking skills necessary for their future careers. This is exactly the kind of rigorous, hands-on education we strive to provide at SUNY Potsdam."

After returning to campus, the team showed off their trophies and certificates to their business administration classmates. They also shared their impressions of the trip to LA, their personal views of the competition and the intensity of competing with other universities from throughout the world. The students added that they want to encourage other students to form teams for next year's competition, and were willing to mentor them.

"Competing at the International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition at Loyola Marymount University challenged me in ways I had not experienced before, pushing me to think critically, communicate clearly and perform under pressure," said Matthew Mapes, who was the team manager. "What made it even more meaningful was representing SUNY Potsdam alongside such a dedicated and talented team. We truly trusted each other, and that made all the difference. Winning the competition was incredibly rewarding, but what I'll value most is the growth, the teamwork and the confidence this experience gave me. I'm extremely grateful to Dr. Portugal and his wife Susan for their constant support and belief in us throughout the entire process."

"It's quite hard to put into a short space how meaningful competing at the International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition meant to me, as it was one of the most eye-opening experiences that I've ever been a part of," said Jayden Murphy. "The dynamics of the competition forced me to think critically and communicate effectively to the judges from around the world. My teammates made the process of preparing for the IBESCC so simple, as we all clicked seamlessly and it really showed. Dr. Portugal and his wife Susan made the experience that much better, with their level of belief in us and we felt very confident competing in Los Angeles. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Dr. Portugal, Susan Portugal, Dean James Cruikshank, Billijean Elliott, and my teammates Matthew, Chloe, and Jaidan for such a wonderful opportunity to proudly represent The State University of New York at Potsdam in such a high level, competitive atmosphere."

"I could say so many things about Los Angeles, but mainly I'll say that I will never have an experience like that ever again. Dr. Portugal, his wife Susan, and our team made that experience something that I will never forget," said Chloe Cromp. "And the educational aspect was astounding because I didn't realize how intricate the competition was until I was actually competing. The whole experience was so amazing, and if anybody is ever offered an experience like that, the only thing that you should do is go through with it, because these kinds of experiences can teach you so much about life. We had an amazing group of very intelligent students competing, and we worked together so well, and brought home two trophies because of our hard work, but mostly things we learned from Dr. Portugal. Our team wants to do this again in the future, because it was truly a rewarding experience."

"Preparing for this competition took a lot of hard work, dedication, and guidance from Dr. Portugal and his wife Susan, and it truly paid off. Being able to represent SUNY Potsdam and compete against top schools from all around the world made the experience even more meaningful, and coming home with awards was incredibly rewarding," said Jaidan Kertenis, who was the team point-person in the 90-second fast-paced elevator pitch division. "When I realized the 90-second elevator pitch would be presented to the entire competition, I saw it as a chance to highlight my skills and grow them further in an academic setting. Coming from a background of performing and singing on stage helped build my confidence, allowing me to stay composed and present my ideas clearly. My team's confidence in me pushed me to channel my nerves into a strong performance and made me even more driven to secure the win."

"I'm so proud of our team and everything we put into this. I'm also incredibly grateful for the constant support from my family, who have always encouraged me along the way. This is an experience I will always remember. It not only pushed me academically but also gave me the confidence and motivation to continue pursuing opportunities like this in my professional career. Thank you to Dr. Portugal and his wife Susan -- this all would not have been possible without them," Kertenis added.

SUNY Potsdam's Department of Business Administration offers flexible bachelor's and master's degrees in competitive fields, and provides students with an understanding of how for-profit and non-profit organizations function efficiently and effectively in the global marketplace. The College offers its undergraduate business administration program both at the Potsdam campus and in Watertown, N.Y., at Jefferson Community College. Its Master of Science program in management is offered 100 percent online, to serve graduate students around the world. For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/SOEPS/BusinessAdmin.

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