Students Earn Second Place at Regional Project Management Competition
A team of North Seattle College (NSC) and Green River College (GRC) students earned second place at the Project Management College Bowl, held October 9 at Seattle University as part of the Project Management Institute (PMI) Puget Sound chapter's Professional Development Days 2026. The second-place finish earned the team a free seat in the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) boot camp.
The six-student team included NSC students Hillary Simms, Shekaba Aryan, Yocelin Santiago, and Victoria Gomes, along with GRC students Bri Ponce and Beza Legesse. The students were recruited from project management courses taught by Nausica Zorzi, faculty member in Business and International Business at North Seattle College.
What makes the team's achievement even more impressive is the limited time they had to prepare. Students from both colleges were brought together just one week before the competition and collaborated during evening Zoom sessions while balancing jobs, family responsibilities, and coursework.
The competition featured undergraduate and graduate teams from several institutions, including Seattle University, Western Washington University, Saint Martin's University, Northeastern University, and Northwestern University. The combined North Seattle College and Green River College team advanced to the final round and finished second overall, behind Seattle University's MBA team.
In the championship round, teams were presented with a new business case and given just 45 minutes to analyze the situation, create presentation materials, and deliver their recommendations to judges.
One of the students, GRC’s Beza Legesse, said, "My biggest takeaway is that there's rarely one perfect answer. Every choice has a trade-off, so be honest about it and stand behind your decision. This competition gave me real, hands-on experience with how project management works."
According to Nausica Zorzi, the team's success reflected the students' ability to trust one another, work collaboratively under pressure, and adapt quickly to unfamiliar challenges. Five of the six students are non-native English speakers, adding another layer of complexity to a competition that relied heavily on communication, critical thinking, and presentation skills.
"I am impressed by our team's resourcefulness and resilience," Nausica said. "Despite the tight schedule, they found a way to add value, work together, and make us all proud."
The strong showing also earned recognition from industry professionals attending the event, many of whom noted the students' ability to overcome challenges and compete successfully against students with advanced education.
The result highlights the quality of North Seattle College's International Business bachelor's degree program and the talent, determination, and professionalism of its students. Through opportunities like the Project Management College Bowl, students gain hands-on experience applying classroom learning to real-world business challenges while building the confidence and skills needed for future careers.
Reflecting on the experience, NSC student Yocelin Santiago said, "For most of my journey as an online student, school felt a bit lonely and, honestly, a little boring. That started to change earlier this year, when I began getting involved in more school-related group projects. Since then, I've felt more confident and excited, not only about the opportunities that come up, but more importantly about the genuine connections I'm building. Those connections and what I learn from them make me feel more prepared for life after graduation."