2024
First place
Cracking Open A Case
Submitted by: Lexi Esterle
School: Ball State University
Faculty advisor: Dr. Elina Erzikova
Second place
Adidas Says BYE: Adidas Drops Partnership with YE
Submitted by: Valeria Ruiz, Marina Rutter, Jarriae Anderson
School: DePaul University
Faculty advisor: Matt Ragas
2023
First place
Trouble in Paradise
Submitted by: Ayesha Djibo, Mya Estrada, Breahn Fisher and Kelly Weinstock
School: Texas Christian University
Faculty advisor: Dr. Liang Ma
Second place
The Starbucks Union Boom: How a Pro-Worker Employer Became a Union Target
Submitted by: Yasmeen Jabara, Nicolas Blanco Ballesteros, Meagan Keefe and Gabriela Perez
School: American University
Faculty advisor: Pallavi Kumar
Third place
The US Army's Recruiting Crisis. What is casuing and what are leaders doing to fix it.
Submitted by: Blake Bonifas
School: University of Northern Carolina at Chapel Hill
Faculty advisor: Dr Lois Boynton
2022
Grand Prize Winner
Defending Community: Lyft & Texas Senate Bill 8
Submitted by: Caitlin Dickinson and Clay Patrick
School: Boston University
Faculty advisor: Dr. Arunima Krishna
First prize
United Airlines: Fly the Vaccinated Skies
Submitted by: Courtney Baer, Lauren Casole, Tommy Nguyen and Lauren Garelick
School: University of Florida
Faculty advisor: Patrick Ford
Second prize
Ben & Jerry’s: A Values-Driven Business in Conflict
Submitted by: Chase Chitwood and Stephen George
School: University of Oklahoma
Faculty advisor: Angela Zhang
Third prize
Fans Fever Cools Down, Talent Show Shuts Down: Milk Wasting of iQIYI leads to Government Intervention
Submitted by: Yuren Li, Renyoo Zhang, Yajun Han and Weiyi Sun
School: Peking University
Faculty advisor: Soojin Roh
2021
Grand Prize Winner
Masks are the New Boarding Pass: Delta Air Lines Implements Strick Mask Mandate
Submitted by: Carrie Wanous, Karina Peterson and Maddie Tew
School: University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communications
Faculty advisor: Donna Z. Davis
First prize, Business School
Turning a Moment in a Movement: Why the NBA said “Black Lives Matter”
Submitted by: Rhianna Taniguchi
School: John Hospkins University
Faculty advisor: Rick Miller
First prize, Communications
More Than a Roll: Ensuring Brand Trust and Transparency When Panic Buying Hits
Submitted by: Logan White, Kailey Kiss, Ryan Ong and Shiyi Zhou
School: University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications
Faculty advisor: Patrick Ford
Second prize, Communications
NBA players’ strike: How the NBA responded to an unprecedented work stoppage following the Jacob Blake shooting
Submitted by: Andy Jobanek, Isaac Bisilki and Steven Lozano
School: University of Oregon
Faculty advisor: Donna Z. Davis
2020
Grand prize winner
Dick’s Sporting Goods Enters the Gun Debate: Revising the Playbook
Submitted by: Alyson Morris, Hannah Neuschwander and Rui Zhao
School: University of Oregon of Journalism and Communications
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Donna Z. Davis
First prize, Business School
Johnson & Johnson: A Crisis Over Baby Powder
Submitted by: Christina Beyer, Nicole Mastrocinque and Natasha Gunasekara
School: University of Notre Dame
Faculty advisor: James O’ Rourke
First prize, Communications
Major League Soccer: Social Consciousness or Social Contentiousness
Submitted by: Noah Cavicchi
School: Boston University
Faculty advisor: Arunima Krishna
Second prize, Communications
Upholding Brand Values and Combasting Pharmaceutical Mistrust Amidst the Opioid Crisis
Submitted by: Leah Antovel, Marina Burke, Jania Lowe and Tamarra Thal
School: University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications
Faculty advisor: Pat Ford
Third prize, Communications
“Nothing to Hide.” That’s Southwest. / Navigating Crises Fast and Well with Human Stories in the Era of Misinformation
Submitted by: Rebecca Schriner and Melissa Kraman
School: Bell State University
Faculty Advisor: YoungAh Lee
2019
Grand prize winner
Dove: A Purpose-Driven Brand in a Crisis of Sincerity – The Struggle to Navigate Rising Expectations of Corporate Responsibility
Submitted by: Olivia Zed, Sarah Dasher
School: Boston University
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Don K. Wright
First prize, Business School
The Washington Post: Delivering the Truth in an Era of “Fake News”
Submitted by: Jospeh Berry, Emily Carson, John Grassey
School: University of Notre Dame
Faculty Advisor: Amanda McKendree
Second prize, Business School
The United States Olympic Committee: Protecting Their Girls or The Gold?
Submitted by: Erica Levy, Rebeckah Wellen
School: University of Notre Dame
Faculty Advisor: Amanda McKendree
Communications, First prize
When You Wish Upon A Star: Disney|ABC Puts Corporate Values First in Cancelling Roseanne
Submitted by: Brittany Aaron, Antoinette Iacullo, Hank Mendheim, Elise Zhang
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Matt Rogos
Communications, Second prize
Buckle Up! C-Suite Tweeters at Large: Elon Musk Takes Tesla Inc. On a Wild Ride
Submitted by: Sara May, Kylie Brooks
School: Brigham Young University
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Christopher Wilson
Communications, Third prize
Google and the #MeToo Movement: Responding to a Global Walkout in the Wake of Sexual Harassment Allegations
Submitted by: Allyssa Murphy, Emily Gagnon, Teagan Epley
School: Grand Valley State University
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Tim Penning
2018
Grand prize winner
Responding While the Record Button Is Always On: Flying High and Low with United Airlines Corporate Culture and Stakeholder Empowerment
Submitted by: Brooke Smith, Steven Pelham
School: Brigham Young University
Faculty Advisor: Dr Christopher Wilson
First prize, Business School
Apple, Inc.: Data Privacy and a Request from the FBI
Submitted by: Cory Bailey, William Garland, Luke Nitchals
School: University of Notre Dame
Faculty Advisor: Dr. James O’Rourke
Second prize, Business School
Honda Motor Company, LTD: Communication and the Takata Airbag Crisis
Submitted by: Sonakshi Baherty, Briton Moffitt, Walter Pruchnik
School: University of Notre Dame
Faculty Advisor: Dr. James O’Rourke
Communications, First prize
Unilever and Kraft Heinz: A Global Clash of Corporate Purpose and Profits
Submitted by: Natalia Sowa, Neena Lecher, Alexa Ohm, Emma Finkbeiner
School: DePaul University
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Matt Ragas
Communications, Second prize
The #DeleteUber Social Media Storm: Corporate Reputation in an Era of ‘Alternative Facts’
Submitted by: Rachel Mihulka, Aray Rivera, Benita Zepeda
School: DePaul University
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Matt Ragas
Communications, Third prize
Target’s Transgender Bathroom Policy: Missing the Target or Hitting the Bullseye?
Submitted by: Aaron Robert, Brianna Olson, Brooklyn Wilson, Erin Stehlik
School: Grand Valley State University
Faculty Advisor: Adrienne Wallace
2017
Grand prize winner
Walking the "Encryption Tightrope": Getting to the Core of Apple's Privacy and Security Battle with the FBI
Submitted by: Brooke Lichtman, Jaymie Polet, Bria Smith, Rubai Soni
School: DePaul University
Faculty advisor: Dr. Matt Ragas
First prize, Business School
Whole Foods Market, Inc.: Damage Control Over Product Mislabeling (A) and (B)
Submitted by: Dylan Koehler, Dustin Schoedel, Stephanie Rearick
School: Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame
Faculty advisor: Dr. James S. O'Rourke, IV
Second prize, Business School
Chipotle Food Safety
Submitted by: Kayla McLaughlin
School: University of Dayton
Faculty advisor: Dr. Kelly Vibber
Third prize, Business School
Airbnb: Scaling Safety with Rapid Growth
Submitted by: Matthew Beck, Will Foster and Claire Kenney
School: Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame
Faculty advisor: Dr. James S. O'Rourke
First prize, Communications
‘Bad Apple' Behavior or a Spoiled Barrel: An Analysis of Wells Fargo's Crisis Response to Alleged Culture Flaws
Submitted by: Eva Marnen, Haleigh Stern
School: DePaul University
Faculty advisor: Dr. Matt Ragas
Second prize (joint), Communications
Costume vs. Culture: How a Successful Communication Campaign Saved Disney's Culture Issue from Turning Into a Crisis
Submitted by: Kasey Andrade, Colin Golden, Margo Hughes, Emily Hyde
School: Bridgewater State University
Faculty advisor: Dr. Hui Zhang
2016
Grand prize winner
Starbucks; The Third Place on a Third Rail Issue: An Analysis of Starbucks’ Race Together Initiative
Submitted by: Megan Cauley, Chelsea Michael, Lizmarie Orengo
School: DePaul University College of Communication
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Matt Ragas
First prize, Business School
Barneys; Shop and Frisk
Submitted by: Christopher Cellante and Tim Kelly
School: University of Notre Dame
Faculty Advisor: Dr. James O'Rourke
Second prize, Business School
Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.; A Cybersecurity Attack from North Korea
Submitted by: Meredith Alexander, Ashley Chase, and Kelly Chase
School: University of Notre Dame
Faculty Advisor: Dr. James O'Rourke
First prize, Communications
Uber; See What Happens: How a Communications Campaign Saved Uber Billions
Submitted by: Rachel Pipan and Kelly Sheehan
School: American University School of Communication
Faculty Advisor: B.J. Talley
Second prize, Communications
Amtrak; Fatal Derailment: Is Amtrak’s Reputation Riding on its Response to the Wreck of Train 188?
Submitted by: Stacey M. Hajdak
School: Syracuse University S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Laurence Mussio
Third prize, Communications
Blue Bell; People Over Profit: An Analysis of Blue Bell Creameries' Listeriosis Crisis Response
Submitted by: Patricia Barrett, Stephanie Ericson and Erika Hanes
School: DePaul University College of Communication
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Matt Ragas
2015
Grand prize winner
Cigarettes Out. Health In. An Analysis of the Rebrand of CVS Health
Authors: Maggie Christ, Renata Sandor and Andrew Tonne
Faculty Advisor: Matt Ragas
First prize, Communications School
General Motors' Corporate Culture Crisis: An Assessment of the Ignition Switch Recall
Authors: Alie Kuopus, Sue Nicole Susenburger and Lily Kim
Faculty Advisor: Matt Raga
First prize, Business School
Starbucks Corporation: Tax Avoidance Controversies in the U.K.
Authors: Jack Gay and Scott Manwaring
Faculty Advisor: James O’Rourke
Second prize, Communications School
The Virtue of Patients: Veterans' Fatal Wait
Author: Brenda Middleton
Faculty Advisor: J. Suzanne Horsley
Second prize, Business School
Gilead Sciences and Sovaldi: The Cost of a Cure
Authors: Benjamin Budish, Chase Lane, and Richard Zaleskie
Faculty Advisor: James O’Rourke
Third prize, Communications School
BP’s Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Crisis and their Recovery Through Team USA Olympic Sponsorship: An Analysis of Reputation Management and Corporate Sponsorships
Author: Neha Jain
Faculty Advisor: John Trybus
2014
Grand prize winner
Are All Calories Created Equal? An Analysis of the Coca-Cola Company’s Communication in the Fight Against Obesity
Author: Heather Harder, Elon University School of Communications
Faculty Advisor: Lucinda Austin
First prize, Communications School
The Need for Cultural Intelligence: An Analysis of Asiana Airlines’ Response to the Crash Landing of Flight 214
Authors: Dionne Gomez & Erin Reed, DePaul University
Faculty Advisor: Matt Ragas
First prize, Business School
Firing the Founder: A Men’s Wearhouse Identity Crisis
Author: Kristen Piotrowski, DePaul University, Kellstadt Graduate School of Business
Faculty Advisor: Matt Ragas
Second prize, Communications School
Tainted Yogurt: An Analysis of Chobani’s Mold Crisis
Authors: Joanna Scott & Catherine Schuler, DePaul University, College of Communication
Faculty Advisor: Matt Ragas
Second prize, Business School
Bank of America Debit Card Fee: Corporate Strategy vs. Consumer Perception
Authors: Jessica Bonanno, Jason Guindon, Patrick Riley & Jonathan Stevens, University of Notre Dame, Fanning Center for Business Communication
Faculty Advisor: Dr. James Scofield O’Rourke
Third prize, Communications School
#Social Strong: The Effect of Social Media on the Boston Marathon Bombings
Author: Lexie Broytman, Quinnipiac University
Faculty Advisor: Alexander Laskin
Third prize, Business School
Progressive Insurance: Paying a Lawyer to Defend Your Sister’s Killer
Authors: Ryan Heatherman & Llze Swanepoel, University of Notre Dame, Fanning Center for Business Communication
Faculty Advisor: Dr. James Scofield O’Rourke
2013
Grand prize winner
A Crisis out of Thin Air: An Analysis of JetBlue’s Response to a Pilot’s Mid-Flight Breakdown
Stephen Zelezny, University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Faculty advisor: Jennifer Floto
First prize, Business School
Title: Carnival Corporation: The Costa Concordia Crisis
Jonathan J. Gantt, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College
Faculty advisor: Paul A. Argenti
First prize, Communications School
Pink Politics: How Komen’s Planned Parenthood Communications Response Unraveled the Pink Ribbon
Laura Brubaker Crisco, School of Communication, University of Hartford
Faculty advisor: Susan Grantham
Second prize Communications School
In Charity We Trust? How Allegations of Misspending against the Canadian Cancer Society Serve as a Wake-Up Call for the North American Non-Profit Sector
Christine Szustaczek, Faculty of Humanities, McMaster University
Faculty advisor: Larry Mussio
Third prize, Communications School
Sprinting From Sandy: The Public Relations Storm Surrounding New York Road Runners and the Cancellation of the 2012 ING New York City Marathon
Theodora (Teddy) Spicer,School of Communications, Quinnipiac University
Faculty advisor: Alexander Laskin
2012
Grand prize winner
Water on Fire: An Analysis of ExxonMobil’s Communicative Defense of Hydraulic Fracturing
Jessica Carlton, University of Alabama, College of Communications and Information Services
Faculty advisor: Bruce Berger
First prize, Business School
Carnival Cruise Lines: Fire Aboard a Stranded Cruise Ship
Russell Cramer, Sam DeLemos, Laura Divel, University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business
Faculty advisor: James Scofield O’Rourke IV
First prize, Communications School
The Democratization of Corporate Giving: JPMorgan Chase & Company’s Attempt to Bring Philanthropy to the Masses through Facebook
John Trybus, Georgetown University, Continuing Studies
Faculty advisor: Julie Dixon
Second prize, Business School
Groupon Goes Public: Communication Strategy and Challenges
Jun Frank, Eric Sauerhoff, University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business
Faculty advisor: James Scofield O’Rourke IV
Second prize Communications School Winner
“I’d like my life back”: BP’s response to its 2010 oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico
Liang Ma, University of Maryland, College Park
Faculty advisor: Elizabeth Toth
Third prize, Business School
Stoppage of Play: The Sony PlayStation Network Crash
Xiao-Feng (John) Hsu, Shawn Do, University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business
Faculty advisor: James Scofield O’Rourke IV
Third prize, Communications School
Four Loko Frenzy: Phusion Projects Responds to FDA, FTC and Media
Carleton Rafield, University of Alabama, College of Communications and Information Services
Faculty advisor: Bruce Berger
