UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A team of students from the Penn State Smeal College of Business emerged victorious in its debut entry into the highly competitive ICSC/UNC Retail Real Estate Case Competition in late May.
With the first-place finish, the team earned a $10,000 prize at the event, which is held annually during the ICSC Las Vegas Convention. This invitation-only event brought together 16 top undergraduate real estate programs from across the United States and Canada.
The Penn State team — comprised of seniors Luke Wagner and Ethan Snyder, junior Liam Buckley and sophomore Logan Wrigley — was under the guidance of Mallory Meehan, clinical associate professor of real estate. The team tackled a complex case involving the revitalization of a struggling retail center in California. Teams were given just five days to analyze the opportunity, develop a strategy and prepare their presentation before heading to Las Vegas to pitch their ideas to an esteemed panel of real estate professionals.
“This win is a testament to the caliber of our students and the strength of our real estate program,” Meehan said. “The team demonstrated exceptional analysis, creativity and professionalism under pressure. To take first place in our very first year competing is a huge accomplishment.”
The Penn State team was one of just 16 selected to compete in the competition, which is jointly hosted by the International Council of Shopping Centers and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. The event is designed to challenge students with real-world development scenarios and connect them directly with industry leaders in retail real estate.
The Borrelli Institute for Real Estate Studies at Penn State sponsored the competition team along with 10 additional students who attended the ICSC convention for networking and professional development. This initiative reflects the Borrelli Institute’s continued commitment to blending academic excellence with real-world experiences that prepare students for successful careers in real estate.
“This is exactly the kind of hands-on, high-impact opportunity we strive to provide through the Borrelli Institute,” Meehan said. “It’s about putting our students in the rooms where decisions are made — and watching them rise to the occasion.”
As Penn State continues to grow its presence in the national real estate arena, this win marks a major milestone and sets the tone for future success.
For more information about Penn State’s real estate program or the Borelli Institute for Real Estate Studies, visit smeal.psu.edu/bires or email Meehan at mmm446@psu.edu.