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The winning team will go on to compete at the 11th Annual Sherman Miller Real Estate Case Competition this spring. 

(The winning team, Flatiron Capital (from left to right): Jonah Duran, Aidan Fletcher, Emma Bedrick, Alex Jones and Peter Hawkins.)

(The winning team, Flatiron Capital (from left to right): Jonah Duran, Aidan Fletcher, Emma Bedrick, Alex Jones and Peter Hawkins.)

Jonah Duran, Aidan Fletcher, Emma Bedrick, Alex Jones and Peter Hawkins formed the first place team that won $1,000 in prize money at the Sixth Annual Bascom Undergraduate Real Estate Case Competition. They will go on to compete at the 11th Annual Sherman Miller Real Estate Case Competition.

The Bascom Undergraduate Real Estate Case Competition launched in 2019 to expand opportunities for CU’s real estate students to gain experience with real-world business cases, develop their analytical skills and prepare for success in the commercial real estate industry. To participate, students audition for a semester long co-curricular program, which builds on their coursework to improve presentation, speaking and collaboration skills, along with providing hands-on practice with contemporary market conditions and analytics.

The case competition program, which uses a case study-based method, is generously supported by Bascom and the David Kim family. A strong supporter of higher education and experiential learning, Kim recognized the advantage students have in their career search when they’re given chances to tie together academics and business scenarios before graduation.

“The Bascom Case Competition is an excellent opportunity for our students to address real-world challenges and apply the knowledge gained from classroom experiences,” said Julie Gibson, executive director of the Klump Center for Real Estate. “Co-curricular activities through the Klump Center act as a differentiator for our students and graduates.”

The winning students also shared their thoughts about bringing what they learned in class to the competition.

“The curriculum from REAL 3000: Principles of Real Estate was helpful in accurately determin[ing] the optimal buy and sell prices for the investment property,”

said Aidan Fletcher.

“It isn’t until you look at a real estate transaction on your own that you understand how many components go into making a transaction successful,” said Alex Jones. “The case competition allowed me to apply the concepts that I learned in my classes into a real project where I could understand what it truly takes to handle a transaction.”

The team prepared for the competition by joining a workshop series led by team of Center staff, Leeds faculty and volunteer industry professionals. During the workshops, the team spent time diving into in-depth real estate concepts and providing time for students to practice their presentation.

“The practice case feedback really set us apart,” explained Peter Hawkins. “We were given over 15 minutes of direct feedback on our analysis and presentation style. In the moment, it was challenging to hear what we did wrong, but our group rallied around the feedback, embraced our old mistakes and worked hard to fix them.”  

Jones added, “The workshop series helped me understand how to look at real estate from a creative and practical lens. The instruction and training also emphasized the importance of presentation delivery so we could confidently present in front of judges.”

The workshops and practice not only led the students to victory, but they also provided them with the skills to confidently move forward in their careers. Jonah Duran shared that “this experience was unmatched in preparation for my career, as I now have the confidence, skills and connections to pursue a number of fields in the industry.”

Fletcher shared a similar sentiment. “The case competition had a profound impact on my career journey. It offered invaluable insights into investment real estate beyond what is typically covered in the classroom. The experience not only enhanced my problem-solving skills, adaptability and professional presentation abilities—it also has served as a significant differentiator in job interviews and applications.”

The winning team will have another opportunity to build their real estate chops by competing at the 11th Annual Sherman Miller Estate Case Competition in April 2025. In partnership with CU Boulder and the University of Denver, the CSU Everitt Real Estate center will host the competition where students will be asked to perform a valuation, tenant mix, rent rolls, cash flows, and more of a retail commercial development.

For students who want to get involved in future case competitions to build their practical experience, they can visit the Klump Center's Co-Curricular page.