NW Valley Times

Grand Canyon University (GCU) students Parker Boynton and Alfredo Ramirez recently achieved noteworthy successes in two business competitions. Boynton, a recent graduate with a bachelor's degree in entrepreneurship, along with his classmates, demonstrated their negotiation skills despite their limited experience.

In April, Boynton and Isaac Ballew represented GCU at the National Undergraduate Negotiating Competition held at Paradise Valley Community College. Competing against 12 schools, they secured second place after less than a month of preparation. Shortly after this achievement, Boynton and Ramirez, both members of Canyon Angels, won first place at the Border Entrepreneurial Challenge hosted by Northern Arizona University’s Yuma campus. The competition saw participation from several Mexican universities as well as Arizona Western College and NAU.

The Border Entrepreneurial Challenge offered binational teams an opportunity to present new entrepreneurial plans or expand existing projects to a panel of judges from both nations. This competition also highlighted interpersonal and business skills that Boynton had not previously tested in such a manner.

Professor Niraj Kohli was instrumental in encouraging students to participate in these competitions. Impressed by Boynton's eagerness to compete, Kohli said: “That tells me a student is on the ball... He’s got what it takes, which is a little hustle and a desire to do this, and I’m glad he won.”

Boynton and Ballew were satisfied with their performance at the National Undergraduate Negotiating Competition despite losing to Baylor University in the finals. They had beaten Babson College of Massachusetts in the first round. "Negotiating is just like an argument with rules," Boynton explained.

Ballew echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that effective communication supplemented data analysis during the competition. In various rounds, they simulated negotiations involving price points for new products and selling new movies to streaming services.

At the Border Entrepreneurial Challenge in Yuma, Boynton and Ramirez focused on understanding employers' needs and presenting solutions. Ramirez, a marketing major with a minor in business administration, emphasized the importance of continuous learning and growth.

The experiences at GCU have enabled Ramirez to step out of his comfort zone and take on new challenges. "It's all about the chance to try new things," he concluded.