MBA school students are rarely unmotivated, and students at Wake Forest University's Schools of Business are no different. Besides studying at a nationally recognized MBA school, students at the Schools of Business work in the community, participate in clubs and organizations, compete in national competitions, and run the school's very own Marketing Summit and Elevator Competition.

Commitment to community service and ethical conduct at Wake Forest's Schools of Business is based on the university's motto, Pro Humanitate, which means "for humanity." Business students annually are involved in events such as the MBA school Community Plunge, during which students devote almost 200 hours of service to local community nonprofit organizations; and the annual MBA school Charity Auction, which raises tens of thousands of dollars for a community group chosen by student vote. Other student-directed efforts have included a project to build sustainable business in Nicaragua, pro bono consulting work in Oaxaca, Mexico, and an after-school program that taught local elementary-school children about computers and related technology.

Besides working in the community, business students can choose from among several clubs and organizations to join. From the Operations Club and the Entrepreneurs Club, to the Speakin' Deacons and Women in Business, students are encouraged to pursue their interests.

Business students also participate in several national competitions. Our finance, marketing and entrepreneurship students regularly compete - and win - against the nation's best in business plan, venture capital and other competitions in California, Georgia, Ohio, Texas and elsewhere.

The Marketing Summit and Elevator Competition are annual national events with sponsors and participants from top MBA programs from around the world. The Marketing Case Competition, the centerpiece event of the MBA Marketing Summit, features teams of MBA students from eight schools competing to solve a marketing challenge provided by a corporate sponsor. Each team spends 36 hours developing its marketing response to the case. Recent sponsors have included Coca-Cola, DISH Network, GlaxoSmithKline, Motorola, Wachovia Wealth Management and Yahoo!.

In the Elevator Competition, entrepreneurially minded MBA students compete by pitching their business plans to a venture capitalist during a pair of two-minute elevator rides, with the goal of earning additional face time with venture capitalists that judge the competition.