​​​​​​​Four students from the University of North Texas (UNT) recently showcased their human resources expertise at the Texas SHRM Student Competition and Conference, held at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD).

Ezra Poch, Alexis Rucker, Jericha Brock and Isabela Hunt-Riley formed a dynamic team that secured an impressive third place among eight teams representing different universities across Texas.

The competition involved analyzing a case study that simulated real-world HR challenges faced by a company. The team was presented with background information on the company's issues and was tasked with developing innovative solutions to address the situation.

"The goal of the competition was to help us understand the practical aspects of the HR field we will soon enter, while also encouraging us to propose new ideas and approaches to solve problems," explained Brock, an integrated studies major with a focus on human resources and entrepreneurship.

The competition served as a valuable opportunity to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-life HR scenarios.

"These competitions allow us to put the information we learn into practice," Brock stated. "It's fascinating to see different perspectives and hear my teammates' insights throughout the process."

The team's success was attributed to their diverse backgrounds and expertise in HR. With different levels of education and specific HR focuses, their collective knowledge brought a fresh perspective to problem-solving.

Brock noted that even though there were different viewpoints, they were all applicable to the case at hand—and she attributed her own success in the competition to the foundational knowledge she gained from Professor Aguilars' human resource course. The course covered a wide range of HR topics and provided the necessary tools for approaching case studies like the one presented in the competition.