FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The Supply Chain Management Research Center in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, in alliance with FedEx Freight and a group of corporate sponsors, is hosting an international graduate logistics case competition from Nov. 13 to 15. The event will take place at the Holiday Inn of Northwest Arkansas in Springdale.

"We are honored to be able to host this competition, which brings together graduate logistics students from 12 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 Freight 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 FedEx Freight International Graduate Logistics Case Competition is an ideal forum to learn from some of the best and brightest logistics students."

The students are given a logistics case and allowed just 24 hours to prepare solutions to be presented before a panel of industry judges. Finalists from each team compete in a run-off, and the winners are announced at an evening banquet on November 15.

The Walton College MBA student team includes Nhan Nguyen, Helen Gunsaulis, Michael Rateliff, Josh Richardson, Cory Scott and Jyo Venkatachala.

Participating universities include Brigham Young University, University of Arkansas, University of Maryland, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Iowa State University, Texas Christian University, Darmstadt University of Technology of Darmstadt, Germany, and Chalmers University of Technology of Gothenburg, Sweden.

The primary sponsor is FedEx Freight. The Platinum sponsor is ABF Freight System Inc. Gold sponsors include: General Mills, Hilti, Unilever, and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Silver sponsors include the Center for Retailing Excellence, E. & J. Gallo Winery, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., Nestlé USA, Procter & Gamble and Transplace. Bronze sponsor is CHAINalytics. Patron sponsors are the CSCMP Ozark Roundtable and Tyson Foods Inc.

The Supply Chain Management Research Center serves as 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.