Rohnert Park, California - The School of Business and Economics (SBE) at Sonoma State University (SSU) announced that student Erin Rock, Master of Business Administration (MBA) Class of 2015, was honored with the "Best Student-Authored Case Award" and $2,000 during the annual North American Case Research Association (NACRA) conference in Orlando, Florida. Her case study and instructor's manual, Girls on the Run Sonoma County: Volunteers, True Strategic Assets, focuses on strategies to support Girls on the Run Sonoma County, a non-profit organization that helps girls develop life skills through conversation-based lessons and running games. The case study evaluated the organization's ability and strategies to scale its technology, promotions, and volunteer functions to sustain recent growth in numbers and participation.
"My goal was to have a finished product that represented everything I learned in the MBA program, and I came away with so much more. Executive Director Catrina Dierke made time to share insights and history about the organization and its mission, which really struck a chord with me. It's that personal connection and passion for the organization that helped me with my research," Erin Rock, MBA Class of 2015, said.
The student case writing competition was sponsored by the Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprises at Baylor University, and was awarded for the "best student-written decision case related to the intersection of entrepreneurial activity and public policy." Erin Rock currently works as Human Resources Specialist in SSU's Employment Services Department. Her research was initially developed as a final capstone project for the MBA course in Strategic Management, Spring Semester 2015.
"Erin displays exactly what it takes for a student to be successful. It takes hard work, dedication, and self-confidence. She earned every bit of that reward and through her hard work and dedication showed that anyone can achieve their goals with the right motivation and support," Tammy Kenber, Senior Director of Human Resources at SSU.
For more information regarding Girls on the Run Sonoma County, please visit www.gotrsonomacounty.org. For information about Erin Rock and Girls on the Run Sonoma County: Volunteers, True Strategic Assets, or for more information about undergraduate and advanced degree programs in the School of Business and Economics, please contact (707) 664-3501, or visit www.Sonoma.edu/sbe.
Photo courtesy of Armand Gilinsky. Award Honoree Erin Rock and Dr. Armand Gilinsky