Montclair State University Team Takes First Place at National HSI Battle of the Brains

The team from Montclair State University, which included several students from the Feliciano School of Business, achieved a major victory by winning the 6th Annual HSI Battle of the Brains national championship in Austin, Texas, held from September 28 through October 2, 2026. 

Taking top honors in the nation's premier academic championship and experiential recruiting showcase for Hispanic-Serving Institutions, the winning student cohort featured Jose Acevedo (Business Administration – Management & Marketing Concentration; Minor in Business Relations & Professional Selling), Grace Velazquez (Social Media & Public Relations), Kimberly Escate (Business Administration – Marketing Concentration), Abel Molina (Accounting; Minor in History), Maximus Maurice-Okite (Computer Science), Alison Ramos (Mathematics; Minor in Leadership Development through Civic Engagement), Omar Khattab (Computer Science), and Esperanza Baquedano (Information Technology; Minor in Computer Science).

To secure the national title, the Montclair State University team outperformed top business and STEM student teams from across the country in a fast-paced, 24-hour case competition. Participants were tasked with analyzing an unannounced, complex industry challenge—incorporating themes such as artificial intelligence, digital platforms, or data-driven business strategies—and delivering a comprehensive proposal to a panel of corporate executives. After advancing through rigorous preliminary rounds, the team reached the final seven-team championship round and emerged victorious. Judges awarded them first place based on their outstanding business analysis, innovative solution design, technical feasibility, executive-level presentation delivery, and performance during the interactive Q&A session.