DaimlerChrysler Corporation and DaimlerChrysler Services Sponsor the National Student Case Competition as Part of the National Black MBA Association Conference

- Michigan State University Walks Away with Top Honors - Competition Marks 10 Years of DaimlerChrysler Corporate Support

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. and AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 22 -- Graduate students at Michigan State University in Lansing, Mich. won first place and $15,000 in scholarships at the DaimlerChrysler Corporation sponsored National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) National Student Case Competition held at the 26th annual conference in Houston. The Georgia State University and Baylor University received second and third place awards, respectively.

Since 1995, the DaimlerChrysler Corp. has provided full sponsorship of the competitions. This year, DaimlerChrysler Services North America, the captive finance arm of DaimlerChrysler, partnered with DaimlerChrysler Corp. on the sponsorship of the Student Case Competition. The competition included nearly 30 top business schools from around the country. The student teams developed business solutions to meet real world challenges while competing for scholarship awards totaling $35,000.

In addition to participation in the academic competition, graduate students representing the top business schools in the United States gained valuable access and exposure to companies that could recruit and eventually hire them.

"As an international enterprise, DaimlerChrysler Services relies on the brightest, most talented and diverse business leaders of tomorrow for its success," said Juergen Walker, President and CEO for DaimlerChrysler Services North America. "We have certainly seen some extraordinary talent in the Student Case Competition and at the career fair," said Walker.

The case study focused on the customer experience in the automotive finance industry. Students were asked to address the competitive nature of customer relationship management and marketing finance products to retail and lease consumers. Elements of the proposals included consumer marketing, point-of-sale programs and brand loyalty initiatives. The teams were judged on the feasibility of their recommendation, quality of their content analysis, the custom solution they provided and their presentation styles.

Student teams participated from institutions across the United States and included the University of Michigan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Clark Atlanta University, University of Maryland at College Park, University of Texas at Austin, Columbia University and Hampton University. For the fifth consecutive year, DaimlerChrysler Corp. has sponsored a team from the University of Stellenbosch of South Africa in the competition.

"DaimlerChrysler is committed to sponsoring a case competition at the National Black MBA Association Annual Conference that provides challenging business scenarios to better prepare MBA students for global business opportunities," said W. Frank Fountain, DaimlerChrysler Corp. Senior Vice President - External Affairs and Public Policy. "Our sponsorship of the team from South Africa truly makes the DaimlerChrysler/NBMBAA Student Case Competition a global event."

Before traveling to Houston for the competition, the Stellenbosch team, consisting of four students and an advisor, visited DaimlerChrysler Services headquarters in Farmington Hills, Mich., as well as toured the automotive manufacturer's headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Additional information and news from DaimlerChrysler is available on the Internet at: http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com