OtterBox Ethics Challenge

Overview

The OtterBox Ethics Challenge is a tournament-style case challenge hosted at the College of Business. Over a month, undergraduate student teams of four prepare a written analysis of a business case that centers on a challenging ethical dilemma and compete for scholarships up to a year of free in-state tuition!

Students are allotted two weeks to prepare the case. Judges will then evaluate each case submission and select ten teams to move on to the next round. OtterBox employees will be assigned as mentors to each of the remaining ten teams. Each team will prepare a new case and winning teams will be announced at a celebration dinner. 

Thanks to the generosity of Otter Products who is funding this initiative, the top scholarship for each member of the first-place team is a free year of in-state tuition at CSU! These students will be recognized as “OtterBox Ethics Scholars.” 

Am I Eligible?

CSU undergraduate students who are enrolled or have passed “Ethics in Contemporary Organizations” (BUS220) and have at least one year remaining following the end of the Fall 2019 semester can enter. Students who competed but did not win first place in the 2018 OtterBox Ethics Challenge are welcome to return to the competition.

You’ll need to be a full-time CSU student in good academic standing (2.0 GPA or better) to be eligible for the OtterBox Ethics Challenge.

Can I Participate if My Team Won Last Year?

Only the first-place team members cannot participate again. All other students who meet eligibility requirements can compete again.

What Can I Win? 

Teams will be evaluated by a panel of judges from CSU’s College of Business, OtterBox and the business community. Each member of a placing team receives a scholarship: 

• First place: Scholarship sufficient to cover the student’s share of base tuition at the resident in-state level for Spring 2020 and Fall 2020. 
• Second place: $1,000 scholarship ($500 for Spring 2020 and $500 for Fall 2020)
• Third place: $500 scholarship ($250 for Spring 2020 and $250 for Fall 2020)

With this much on the line, you’ll need to polish your game and bring your best ethical decision-making skills to the table. Competition will be fierce!

All scholarships must be used for qualified educational expenses (according to Internal Revenue Service standards) and will be allocated during the Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 semesters.

How Do I Register?

It only takes a few minutes to sign up. Applications must be received by 10 am Oct 18 to compete in the OtterBox Ethics Challenge.

I Have My Team of Four
Your team leader will create a team during the registration process. Leaders will name your team and register the entire crew at once. Have your teammates’ preferred emails ready before starting the registration process!

I Want to Join a Team/I Have an Incomplete Team
We’ll help connect you with students and compete in the OtterBox Ethics Challenge. Incomplete teams and individuals can also register and be assigned a team.

I'm In! What's the Schedule?

Oct 18 – All teams or individuals register by 10 am. Faculty announce the details of the ethical case challenge at 3 pm in the Bohemian Auditorium. Ideally, your entire team can be there, but at least one member of every team must attend.

Nov 1 – Case write-ups due. After case judges evaluate submissions, ten qualifying teams will be selected to move forward in the competition and assigned OtterBox mentors.

Nov 6 – Qualifying teams notified.

Nov 7 – Remaining teams meet with faculty, program directors and Otters to discuss the second round and begin preparing to present their analyses. 

Nov 21 - Students deliver final presentations. Judges determine winning teams and scholarships are presented at the celebration dinner.

Sign up today!

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Questions: cob_otterboxethics@colostate.edu

The fine print: Scholarships are nonrefundable and will be awarded to full-time undergraduate students during the Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 semesters to cover qualified educational expenses during the same semesters. Scholarship funds will be deposited directly into student accounts for use on qualified educational expenses and must be used in the semester they are deposited. All awards are non-transferable and can only be used by the direct recipient. All awards are non-transferable and can only be used by the direct recipient.