Launch the Lollipop: College Students win $10,000 in Statewide Marketing Competition

SALT LAKE CITY — Thirty teams of Utah college students recently competed for $10,000 in cash prizes in "Launch the Lollipop," a statewide marketing competition.

University of Utah MBA students Kaitlin Jacobs, McCall Lewis and Kristine Taylor took first place in the competition, winning $5,000. Their ideas will be implemented by Kencraft Candy, the subject of the competition.

The competition took place March 9 at the University of Utah's Spencer Fox Eccles business building. Student teams from the U., Brigham Young University, Utah State University and Westminster College each created a launch plan and subsequent marketing plan for Kencraft's hand-poured lollipops called Lollipals.

A team of USU MBA students — Clint Hugie, Melinda Taylor and Charles Major — came in second place for the $2,500 prize. And BYU marketing undergrads Maren Bennett, Taylor Jensen, Mary Lyman, Sarah Mabey and Nathan Parkin rounded out the top three, receiving $1,000 for their efforts. Additionally, three teams were awarded honorable mention and received $500 each.