September 22, 2016

UW-Superior Lives Up to its Name in IANA’s Sixth Annual Student Competition

A student team fielded by the University of Wisconsin-Superior won the Intermodal Association of North America's sixth Intermodal EXPO Academic Challenge, earning the university its first victory.

The students representing the University were Jacob Irlbeck, Gavin Johnson and Hayden Norris. Each team presented their solutions to a topical case study focused on corporate decision-making within an environment of global steamship overcapacity. A panel of leading industry experts comprised of IANA Board members judged the presentations and selected the winning university

“The Academic Challenge provides students with a realistic case study that requires them to research, present their management proposal before a large audience and respond to probing questions from the judging panel of highly qualified industry professionals,” said Dr. Richard Stewart, professor of transportation and logistics at the University of Wisconsin-Superior and director of its Transportation and Logistics Research Center. “All of the students and faculty attending EXPO have rewarding experiences that create excitement about the intermodal industry. UW-Superior is honored and proud to be an IANA Scholarship school.”

The other competing undergraduate schools, all IANA Scholarship Award recipients, included the Universities of Maryland, North Florida, North Texas, Georgia Southern University and the College of Charleston. The competition is an integral part of IANA's Scholarship Award Program, which offers students the opportunity to apply classroom learning to real-world intermodal issues.

“This year’s expanded competition allowed the student teams to show a breadth of knowledge and insight into a very timely intermodal issue. All of the presentations reflected an understanding of the global supply chain and its interrelationships as well as the outcomes of specific business decisions,“ said Joni Casey, president and CEO of IANA. “Congratulations to UW-Superior for their win this year.”

Since the Scholarship Program’s inception in 2007, IANA has awarded over $1.7 million to support students in university programs focused on freight and intermodal transportation. These grants seek to progress the education of the intermodal freight transportation industry's next generation of leaders and managers.

_{IANA is North America's only industry trade association that represents the combined interests of the intermodal freight industry. The association’s mission is to promote the growth of efficient intermodal freight transportation through innovation, education and dialogue. The association offers valuable information and services specific to the intermodal industry encompassing consensus business solutions that facilitate: operations, regulatory compliance, and policy issue management. IANA's membership roster of over 1,000 members represents the diverse companies critical to moving freight efficiently and safely. IANA provides a discussion forum for the many types of stakeholders along the supply chain, resulting in a strong unified voice advocating the needs of intermodal freight transportation. For more information, visit www.intermodal.org.}

_{About the University of Wisconsin-Superior Scholarship 
In May 2014, The University of Wisconsin-Superior's Transportation and Logistics Management Program became the fourth recipient of an IANA Scholarship Award. It is one of the few university programs offering a required course in International and Intermodal Freight Operations, and the partnership between IANA and UW – Superior will enhance the school's transportation curriculum and educational opportunities. Specifically, the IANA Scholarship Award Program supports the University's participation at the Intermodal EXPO, monetary scholarships and research fellowships for students, and an intermodal outreach summer program for high school students.}