It has been a standout season for D'Amore-McKim's Supply Chain and Information Management students, who recently earned third place at a national case competition and saw eight of their peers recognized with prestigious academic scholarships.
NASPO Procurement Case Competition
A team of four undergraduate students — Yianni Apostolo, DMSB'26, William Ouellette, DMSB'26, Kitty Tran, DMSB'26, and Julia Weisman, DMSB'26 — took third place at the third annual National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) Procurement Case Competition, held at Arizona State University on Feb. 5–7, 2026. The team competed under the guidance of faculty advisor Bob Murray.
“The Team represented NU very well, coming up with an innovative solution and not allowing a technical issue disrupt their presentation to the judges,” says Murray.
Nine universities participated in the immersive event, which challenges students to grapple with the complexities of public procurement. Teams had just 24 hours to research, develop, and present a strategic plan to modernize government operations by selecting and implementing a new eProcurement system. Their proposals had to address budget constraints, technical considerations, change management and training, agency alignment, and timeline — bringing real-world urgency to the experience.
“The students' problem-solving skills and teamwork continue to raise the bar, and the program provides meaningful early exposure to a profession that needs this kind of talent,” says Sherri Maxwell, NASPO President and Chief Procurement Officer of the State of Colorado.
D'Amore-McKim finished third overall, behind first-place Arizona State University and second-place Wayne State University. This marks the third consecutive year that D'Amore-McKim and the Supply Chain and Information Systems Department have funded student participation in the competition.
UPS Foundation Supply Chain Scholarships
D'Amore-McKim Supply Chain faculty selected eight Supply Chain Management students as recipients of the 2026 UPS Foundation Scholarship, awarded for outstanding classroom performance. This year's recipients are Yianni Apostolo, DMSB'26, Hannah Bai, DMSB'26, Sonia Bhate, DMSB'26, Aryan Jain, DMSB'26, Krishanau Nigam, DMSB'26, Hannah Ray, DMSB'26, Kitty Tran, DMSB'26, and Julia Weisman, DMSB'26.
The UPS Foundation has a long history of supporting D'Amore-McKim students, and the school is grateful for the foundation's continued investment in the next generation of supply chain professionals.