A team of undergraduate students from the Kelley School of Business earned first place at the Fall 2024 Smeal Undergraduate Sustainability Case Competition, hosted by the Center for the Business of Sustainability at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business. The two-round competition featured strong entries from across the country, with only six teams advancing to the final round.

Kelley Team Takes First Place at Smeal Sustainability Case Competition.
The challenge invited students to propose innovative strategies to reduce food waste. Kelley School’s team—Crossroads Consulting, consisting of Pallevi Pillai, Rikin Patel, Shreya Goda, and Kirtee Ayitha—presented a data-informed plan grounded in behavioral insights and stakeholder coordination.
The team’s participation was generously supported by the Institute for Environmental and Social Sustainability (IESS), which provided faculty coaching and sponsored the trip. Their success reflects the value of experiential learning and demonstrates IESS’s commitment to fostering applied sustainability leadership.
We also greatly appreciate the Center for the Business of Sustainability at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business for hosting this competition.