NMSU undergraduates finished behind Cornell’s MBA team and ahead of a University of Denver MBA team at the 2026 National Ethics Case Competition.

Tatiana Favela, New Mexico State University

LAS CRUCES - In a standout national finish, undergraduate students in New Mexico State University’s College of Business claimed second place at the 2026 National Ethics Case Competition, outperforming MBA and law students from some of the nation’s top universities.

Hosted by Texas A&M University, in partnership with the Daniels Fund, the competition brought together top student teams nationwide to analyze complex business and ethical dilemmas. First place was awarded to an MBA team from Cornell University, followed by undergraduates from NMSU, with third place going to an MBA team from the University of Denver.

The NMSU team included Jacob Acosta, Natalia Ochoa, Macy Silva and Noah Torres. They were advised by Erin Blaugrund, director of the Center for Sales and Business Ethics in the NMSU College of Business and professor of Marketing in the Department of Marketing, and Dwight Kealy, professor of Business Law in the Department of Finance.

After advancing through multiple rounds, NMSU reached the final five, where teams were given two hours to evaluate a high-stakes case and present recommendations to a panel acting as a corporate board of directors.

“What this means is that this team of NMSU students are among the best in the nation in analyzing complex business and ethical dilemmas and articulating solutions under pressure,” Kealy said. “Our students are prepared to think critically and present professionally in high-stress environments anywhere in the world.”

Blaugrund said the result reflects a deeper culture of ethics education at NMSU.

“Placing second nationally as undergraduates against MBA and law programs is extraordinary – but it goes far beyond a ranking,” she said. “By the time they walked into Washington, D.C., ethical reasoning wasn’t a concept they were applying – it was a reflex.”

She added that preparation began long before the competition itself, in coursework, leadership experiences and Ethics Boot Camp.

“Preparation for a competition like this doesn’t begin in a training session – it begins in the classroom,” Blaugrund said.

Noah Torres, president of the American Marketing Association at NMSU, said representing the university on a national stage added meaning to the experience.

“At first, it was intimidating, but we stayed confident by reminding ourselves that we earned the opportunity to be there,” Torres said. “We knew we were representing NMSU and New Mexico, and that motivated us to work even harder.”

He said the team’s success came from structure, communication and trust under pressure.

“We divided responsibilities based on financial analysis, ethical frameworks, strategy and presentation prep,” Torres said. “The biggest thing was communication – we trusted each other, stayed calm under pressure and worked quickly to build the best recommendation possible.”

Torres credited NMSU faculty, including Blaugrund and Kealy, for shaping his preparation through hands-on learning, leadership opportunities and mentorship.

“They constantly pushed us to believe we could compete at the highest level,” he said.

The team earned $80,000 in prize money, with $35,000 directed back to the Center for Sales and Business Ethics to support future students and ethics programming.

For Torres, the achievement also carried personal meaning beyond the competition.

“I hope it shows other students that with preparation and support, they can compete at the highest level,” he said.

Blaugrund and Kealy said the experience will continue to shape students long after the competition ends, reinforcing ethical leadership under pressure in real-world decision-making. 

Tatiana Favela writes for New Mexico State University Marketing and Communications and can be reached at 575-646-7953, or by email at tfavela5@nmsu.edu.