Concord Business Challenge

Registration for the 2026 CBC is now open! The deadline is October 5, 2026. Jump to registration information

For more than three decades, the Concord University Business Challenge has inspired high school students to think bigger, compete boldly, and discover what’s possible in the world of business. Now getting ready for its 33rd year, the Concord Business Challenge (CBC) brings together talented high school juniors and seniors from across West Virginia and Virginia for a day of academic competition, collaboration, and opportunity on Concord’s campus.

Designed for students with an interest in business, leadership, and innovation, the CBC invites participants to test their knowledge and real-world problem-solving skills across a variety of disciplines, including accounting, communications, economics, finance, hospitality, management, marketing, computer applications, and business math. More than a competition, the event offers students a chance to explore future academic and career pathways, connect with peers who share their ambitions, and experience collegiate life firsthand.

Whether your students are an aspiring entrepreneur, future executive, or simply eager to challenge themselves, the Concord Business Challenge is their opportunity to showcase their talents, earn recognition, and compete for scholarships, all while becoming part of a long-standing tradition of excellence at Concord University.

Two of your students have an opportunity to win a $4,000 Scholarship to Concord University and ten students have an opportunity to win a $1,000 Scholarship to Concord University. Where else could you spend the day away from the regular grind at work…enjoying the fall scenery…learning…having fun…free food and enjoying yourself? So, plan to bring your students, as many as you can, and join us for the day on the “Campus Beautiful”. You and your students will be glad you did. We look forward to having you and your students at the CBC.

Logo created by CBC 2025 logo contest winner James Hylton from Fayetteville Institute of Technology

See our other 2025 winners below

We Can't Wait To See You There!

Concord Business Challenge 2026

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Letter from the President

Letter from the Chair of the Department of Business

Registration

Click on the specified link below for teacher or student. Students need to sign up to compete in at least three test preferences during the 9:30 a.m. and 10:05 a.m. testing sessions by indicating 1st, 2nd, 3rd choices. The 10:40 a.m. scholarship exam testing site will be highlighted on the student’s personal schedule by the CBC Coordinator and returned to the student upon arrival at the Business Challenge. (Sophomores may not compete in the CBC and juniors and seniors may not compete with only a pre-submitted contest only.) Registration and submission of pre-submitted contest entries due by October 5, 2026.
- Teacher form
- Student form
Please indicate on the Teacher Form the number of teachers and counselors who will be attending the luncheon in the State Room. Even if your school is unable to attend this year, we would appreciate it if you would complete and return the information form.
You and your students have the opportunity to take a 30- or 60-minute campus tour after the CBC Awards Ceremony, meeting in front of the Alexander Fine Arts entrance. Select your tour on your registration form and we will arrange a CU Ambassador to guide you.
In the case of an emergency during your school’s attendance at the CBC, you and/or your students may be reached at (304) 384‐5244 or you may also text Lucinda Gonderman, CBC Coordinator at (304) 888‐1186.
Your students will be unloading and loading at the Parking Lot 9, across from Woodell Hall next to the Maintenance Building. There will be students waiting in the parking area to direct students to the Alexander Fine Arts Entrance.

2026 Schedule

Time	Activity	Location
9:00am – 9:30am	CBC Registration Free Continental Breakfast Concord University Admissions Display	Alexander Fine Arts Center Lobby
9:30am – 9:55am	Welcome and Introductions Dr. Bethany Meighen, President, Concord University Dr. Allison Bean, Chair, Department of Business Department of Business Faculty and Staff	Alexander Fine Arts Center Main Theatre
10:00am – 10:30am	First Testing Session	By Individual Student Schedule
10:35am – 11:05am	Second Testing Session	By Individual Student Schedule
11:10am – 11:40am	Third Testing Session	By Individual Student Schedule
11:45am – 12:25pm	Free Lunch – Students/Bus Drivers	Student Center Cafeteria
11:45am – 12:25pm	Free Lunch – Teachers and Counselors	Student Center State Room
12:30pm – 1:00pm	Business Challenge Awards Ceremony Opening Remarks: Admissions & Financial Aid Director Announcer of the Awards: Dr. Allison Bean, Department of Business Chair Presenter of the Awards: Dr. Amanda Sauchuck, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs / Director of Assessment	Alexander Fine Arts Center Main Theatre

Give your students an opportunity to see our campus firsthand and experience a measure of the University’s ambiance. This may be the only opportunity for some students to see and experience a University campus. We are offering you and your students to stay after the Concord Business Challenge and go on a campus tour conducted by the Concord Ambassadors. There are 2 options for your convenience; a 30-minute or a 60-minute tour. Both will begin immediately following the Awards Ceremony in front of the Alexander Fine Arts entrance. Sign up for a tour on the registration form.

Tests

Pencils are provided for each student. All submissions due by October 5, 2026

Accounting

This challenge test will consist of multiple-choice questions. Participants should have knowledge relating to accounting principles, terminology, and problem solving. Level of competency will be introductory accounting courses. Students should bring a calculator. Phone will not be allowed to be used.

Business Communications

The challenge test will consist of multiple choice questions. Participants should have practical experience related to developing proper communication techniques required for effectively composing a variety of messages.

Business Finance

The challenge test will consist of multiple-choice questions. Participants should have a working knowledge in the basics of finance, including, but not limited to, the following areas:

Financial statements
Present and future values
Financial ratios
Working capital management
Stocks
Bonds
Mutual Funds
Treasury securities
Stock exchanges
Banks
Savings institutions
Credit unions
Federal reserve system
Money supply

Students should bring a calculator. Phones will not be allowed to be used.

Business Mathematics

The challenge test will consist of multiple-choice problems. Participants should be familiar with basic mathematical operations, percents, profit and loss, simple interest, mark-up and mark-down, and discounts. Participants should work at a steady pace and solve as many problems as possible. Students should bring a calculator. Phones will not be allowed to be used.

Current Business Events

The challenge test will consist of questions that will cover current events that impact the business envi-ronment. It will cover news reports on national and international economics, as well as corporate business and industry events. Students will be encouraged to think about important trends that will impact organizations and shape management decision-making in the near future.

Economics

The challenge test will consist of multiple-choice questions that cover the basic ideas and principles of Economics. Participants should be aware of the characteristics of capitalism, the price system (supply and demand), inflation, basic economics problems, laissez-faire economics, taxes, GNP, monetary policy, Marxist views, foreign trade, the Federal Reserve System, the role of money, and interest rates.

Hospitality Management

The challenge exam will consist of multiple-choice questions. Students should have knowledge relating to the functional areas of hotels and other lodging establishments in addition to event planning.

Management Principles

This challenge test consists of multiple-choice questions covering the basic issues of management principles that include planning, directing, organizing, and controlling business activities.

MS Office Concepts

This challenge test will consist of multiple-choice and/or true/false questions concerning Microsoft Of-fice concepts. Access, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook applications will be covered.

Marketing Principles

This challenge test will consist of multiple-choice questions covering the basic issues of marketing prin-ciples that include the four P’s of marketing: price, product, promotion, and place.

Pre-Submitted Tests

All submissions due by October 5, 2026

Business Plan Competition

Are you dreaming about owning your own business one day and hope someday to see your own business in a prominent magazine, on television, or do you dream of developing a new product? Well, here is your chance to practice while in high school and get a head start on your dream. If you are thinking about the competitive world of entrepreneurship and making it in the industry, then this is the contest for you. Developing a business plan, slogan, financial plan, and marketing material for your dream busi-ness. This should be a business campaign geared toward customers who would be interested in your business. Emphasis should be placed on the main factors of the business, with focus on 4 main points of your business plan. The advertisement should be in the form of a PowerPoint presentation.

Materials: A PowerPoint application and any art supply you deem appropriate may be used. Include your name and school in the file name submitted no later than October 5, 2026.

Concord Business Challenge Logo and Slogan

Would you like to design a CBC logo and create a slogan that will be used on next year’s Business Challenge Marketing materials? Here is your chance to design an original CBC logo! The first-place winner of this category will be used on next year’s CBC marketing materials. We want a creative Logo focusing on academics and the Department of Business. This category is not a team competition, therefore only one slogan and logo designer per entry. Our Marketing team at Concord University is providing the students a branding guide to follow, which can be found here. Each entry must adhere to those guidelines.

Note: Include your name and school in the file name no later than October 5, 2026.

Pitch Competition

The Concord University Business Challenge’s Pitch Competition offers students the opportunity to dis-play their entrepreneurial spirits. Individuals or teams (up to four people) will present a 3-minute video, due one month prior to the Business Competition for a chance to win a $250.00 (per person) scholarship to Concord University.

Note: Include your name and school in the file name no later than October 5, 2026.

Scholarships

All juniors and seniors attending the Concord University Business Challenge may compete for 12 academic scholarships awarded by the Concord University Admissions Office. The Admissions Office is the primary administrator of these awards and will work in cooperation with Business Faculty in selecting the winners.

All students will compete for twelve scholarships by taking the Scholarship Exam that consists of a compo-site of questions extracted from all areas of the Concord Business Challenge tests.

Two $4,000 winners will be selected based on their scores of the Scholarship Exam that will qualify each stu-dent a $1,000 per year scholarship renewable for up to eight semesters, when they enroll full-time at Concord University. Thus, the maximum total award of this scholarship is $4,000 for each winner. After the students’ first year, the scholarship will be renewed if the students maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and remain in good standing at the University.

Ten students will be awarded a $1,000 nonrenewable scholarship based on their scores on the Scholarship Exam. Each scholarship winner must meet the standard admissions criteria established by the University for entering freshmen.

Note: Any student who wishes to obtain complete information about other scholarships offered by Concord University should contact the Admissions Office. Applications for admission to Concord, as well as scholarship applications, will be available at the Concord Admissions display table on the day of the Challenge or apply online at www.concord.edu/admissions.