Capsim's first Professor Scholarship Challenge attracted 176 participants for four weeks of online training in Capsim business simulations, followed by a competition with two winners presenting a $5,000 scholarship, in their own name, to their university. The winning New User was Professor Kay Zekany of Ohio Northern University (Capstone) and the winning Experienced User was Professor Scott Fay of Syracuse University (Comp-XM).

Chicago, IL. August 6, 2012 - What does it take to be a business simulation expert? Ask Syracuse University Whitman School of Management professor Scott Fay, who won a $5,000 scholarship for the school in the Capsim Management Simulations' 2012 Professor Scholarship Challenge.

The Professor Scholarship Challenge is designed to give new and advanced Capsim business simulation users the opportunity to become experts via a series of instructional webinars that are followed by a competition. Participants compete in one of two categories - new professors and experienced professors - to earn a scholarship in their name for their school. Scott Fay, competing as an experienced professor, decided to sign up for the challenge for a very simple reason: "I was assessing students' strategies and decisions as an 'interested bystander,' but I really hadn't tested myself. I thought, 'Let me see if I know as much as I think I do.'"

It turns out that Fay knows quite a bit, winning one of two scholarships offered with his winning score in Comp-XM. "I learned a lot by attending the webinars. They were very good and I got to understand many of the details of the simulation," he said. Simulation participants learn to apply a range of business skills that test their acumen, including calculating product awareness, understanding a Balanced Scorecard, utilizing automation and building a sales force.

Fay is very familiar with simulations as a teaching tool. A user of Capsim's Capstone and Comp-XM simulation products for the past three years, he cites the Capsim interface as easier to navigate than other simulations he has worked with. "And it is great to have everything online, with access in real time," he says.

The Whitman School uses Capstone and Comp-XM as part of an Integrated Core Program. The program consists of three core units: Principles of Marketing, Introduction to Supply Chain Management and Corporate Finance. The simulations are the backbone of a recitation section that brings together the learning of all three modules. Fay adds, "There is no grade for the Capstone course, but 15% of the grade for each of the other three courses is based on performance in the simulations - both the competition rounds and Comp-XM."

Fay serves as Whitman's Director for the Integrated Core, a recent appointment for him. In this role he champions the simulations to other professors, talking up their value to students, who also enjoy the competitive nature of the programs. "[The simulation] drives their curiosity much more than lectures do," he says.

For further information, contact the 2012 Professor Scholarship Challenge Coordinator, Claudia Caterino at claudia@capsim.com or call us at 312.477.7200. For more information on the 2012 Professor Scholarship Challenge, please visit www.capsim.com.