NMU Team Places Second in Statewide HR Games

Northern Michigan University's Society for Human Resource Management (NMU-SHRM) student organization earned second place among university teams from throughout the state in its first-ever appearance at the HR Games, an annual competition hosted by the Michigan Society for Human Resource Management.

The Jeopardy-style event is based on material from the SHRM Certified Professional exam. It challenged university teams with questions covering the full range of human resource management concepts.

The NMU team members were Emmalee Artibee (captain and alternate), Katherine Shogren, Johnny Swords and Josh Herman. After being selected through an open call to NMU-SHRM club members, the team trained intensively the week before the event.

"We weren't entirely sure what the structure would look like since it was our first year competing," said Steven Edelson, assistant professor in the College of Business and the team's faculty adviser. "So, I created a few rounds of practice Jeopardy questions to help them prepare.

The preparation paid off. NMU's team triumphed over Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University-the latter had two master's students on its team-before losing to Grand Valley State University in the final preliminary match. Their performance still placed them first overall after preliminaries, securing a spot in the championship rematch against GVSU. NMU came up short in a close match in the final, placing second overall.

"We're proud of what our students accomplished and excited to go back next year," said Edelson, who in summer 2024 successfully completed the Society of Human Resource Management Association examination, an industry-recognized credential enhancing NMU's human resource management program.

Debra LaMere, an HR professional and instructor in NMU's College of Business, praised the team's outstanding performance in an email.

"These games are not easy; it's a Jeopardy-style challenge using the SHRM Certified Professional learning system," she said. "Normally, 'new' schools that participate don't place. Taking second demonstrates what a great job everyone is doing teaching and guiding our students. They're putting NMU and the College of Business on the MI-SHRM map."

Edelson extended thanks to both the Upper Peninsula Human Resources Association (UPHRA) and the College of Business for their financial and moral support.