Published on February 18, 2025 by Catherine Smith  
L to R: Young, Bridwell, Martin and Penley

In January, Samford University Brock School of Business students traveled to Atlanta to compete in the 2025 National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship (NCSSC). Hosted by the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, the competition gave students a chance to apply their professional sales skills in a competitive, hands-on environment.

Samford’s sales competition team included students Ally Bridwell, Anna Martin, William Penley and Noah Young, led by associate professor of marketing Clif Eason. The event brought together the top 32 collegiate competitors, from an original pool of over 300 institutions, advancing through multiple rounds in a bracket-style format. Bridwell, a senior marketing major, placed fifth in the nation in the Corporate Partnership division.

“When I first joined Samford’s team, I knew it would be a challenging and rewarding experience, but I didn’t fully grasp just how much it would shape me as a professional,” Bridwell said reflecting on her experience. “Competing in the NCSSC was an opportunity that tested my skills, pushed me beyond my comfort zone, and reinforced my passion for professional sales.”

The professional sales concentration within Brock School of Business equips students with strong interpersonal and skills to be successful in today’s dynamic business markets. Eason’s professional selling course prepares students for sales competitions and career opportunities by using artificial intelligence-driven sales simulation software in class, allowing students to refine their techniques through repetition and real-world scenarios.

“Beyond the classroom, our sales team met frequently to build connections, collaborate and receive guidance from industry professionals in our respective competition divisions,” said Bridwell. “These meetings not only enhanced my technical sales skills but also gave me a deeper understanding of the industry and the power of networking. Because of Samford’s hands-on approach to learning, I now feel fully prepared to step into the workforce, equipped with real-world experience and an expansive professional network—something I am truly grateful for.”

This success story highlights the value of Samford’s experiential learning opportunities, which recently earned the school a ranking as No. 8 in the country for career preparation by The Wall Street Journal.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.