FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Supply Chain Management Research Center in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas, in alliance with FedEx Freight and a host of corporate sponsors, is hosting an international graduate logistics case competition on Feb. 23-25. The event will take place at the Radisson Hotel in Fayetteville, Ark.

“We are honored to be able to host this competition, which brings together graduate logistics students from nine major universities across the country and around the world,” said Jim Crowell, director of the Supply Chain Management Research Center. “Not only will they compete for prestige and cash prizes, they will have good opportunities to network with fellow students and industry professionals.”

“The supply chain is a vital element of every country’s economy. That’s why FedEx is committed to supporting education programs that facilitate knowledge exchange among logistics professionals,” said Pat Reed, executive vice president and chief operating officer for FedEx Freight, the title sponsor of this year’s competition. “The International Graduate Logistics Case Competition is an ideal forum to learn from some of the best and brightest logistics students.”

The students are given logistics cases and allowed just 24 hours to prepare solutions to be presented before a panel of industry judges and one faculty advisor. Finalists from each team compete for a run-off, and the winners are announced at an evening banquet on Feb. 25.

The Walton College MBA student team includes Stacy Crouch, Jonathan Golden, Jennifer Helm, William Ledbetter, Sandhya Sundaram, and Nabil Kawas.

Participating universities include Arizona State University, University of Arkansas, University of Maryland, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, Michigan State University, The Ohio State University, The Pennsylvania State University, and the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany.

Gold sponsors include Arkansas Best Freight System Inc.; J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.; E.& J. Gallo Winery; Harley Davidson; Kimberly Clark, and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Silver sponsors include Guidant Corporation, Halliburton, and Nestle. Bronze sponsors are Colgate-Palmolive; Pepsi; Procter & Gamble; Radisson Hotel-Fayetteville; and Wyeth.

The Supply Chain Management Research Center is a direct link between the private sector and the University of Arkansas supply chain resources. It sponsors activities that promote both the academic and general body of knowledge encompassing supply chain management. It also supports student-focused activities centered on recruitment, retention and graduation.