March 30, 2026
Meghan O'Toole
Marketing students stand out and take home prize at AMA International Collegiate Conference
Members of Lake Forest College's American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter stood out at the annual AMA International Collegiate Conference in Chicago earlier this month by securing first place for Marketing Week and gaining recognition as a top-ten AMA chapter.
Five members of the College's AMA executive board were chosen to represent the College at the conference: Christina Burkova '27, Marianne Su '27, Pearl Kongolo '27, James Maltezos-Boehm '26, and Sophia Colon '26. These students were invited to speak on fundraising at the conference based on the quality of their annual report from the 2024-25 academic year.
The conference, which brings together nearly 2,000 students from around the world, gives students in marketing the opportunity to hone their professional skills. The program included keynote lectures, workshops, networking, and competitions such as Perfect Pitch, Marketing Strategy, Digital Marketing, Marketplace Simulation, and a t-shirt design competition.
Students submitted materials to the Marketing Week competition in November and the Annual Report in February with winners announced at ICC. The Lake Forest College team took home first prize in this year's Marketing Week competition, which encourages students to showcase the value of marketing and detail their marketing efforts, in the small chapter division.
“The competitions were high-pressure and fast-paced,” Kongolo shared. “On the team side, the marketplace simulations and digital marketing competitions required quick thinking and sharp execution; I had to stay sharp and find ways to elevate my team's output in real time. On the individual side, the Perfect Pitch was my second time competing, and while I didn't advance to the second round, I was proud of my composure. I focused on breathing through my pitch instead of rushing, and that growth felt like a win. The sales competition was my first time ever in a role-play scenario at this level, so I went in with an open mindset to test my ability, see where I stand, and gather the feedback to grow.”
Lake Forest's AMA president Burkova, a communication and business double major with a concentration in marketing, found the experience inspiring: “AMA reinforced the power of combining creativity, strategy, teamwork, and adaptability, and it strengthened my excitement for building a career where I can continuously learn and make a meaningful impact.”
The College's AMA chapter's efforts also gained them recognition as a top-10 AMA chapter in the small chapter division.
“As a graduating senior, the ICC was a great opportunity to connect with others and develop professional skills that are useful in the business world,” Maltezos shared.
The team spent multiple years fundraising in order to participate. Plus, the College's AMA chapter was grateful to have the support of three corporate sponsors: Morning Walk, a branding company founded by Patrick Goggin '89, Echo Global Logistics, and Amme Promotions.