A team of College of New Caledonia (CNC) Human Resources students is gaining hands-on experience on a regional stage, demonstrating the power of applied learning, teamwork, and community support.

On March 6, CNC’s HRC West team travelled to Richmond to compete against 15 post-secondary institutions from across Western Canada in an intensive human resources case competition.

Hosted annually by CPHR BC & Yukon in collaboration with CPHR Alberta, the competition challenges students to solve a complex, real-world HR case in just three hours, culminating in a formal presentation to a panel of industry judges.

Representing CNC this year was the team Visionary Solutions:

• Yashpreet
• Mandeep Singh
• Ogochi Ezeakpawusi
• Aszha Ela Badiola

All four students are completing their Post-Diploma in Human Resource Management and will graduate at the end of April.

Each team member brought unique strengths to the competition. Aszha Ela, a psychology graduate and licensed psychometrician from the Philippines, also serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Confluence, CNC’s student magazine. Ogochi, President of the CNC HR Club, brings leadership and a global perspective with advanced degrees in Global Management and Industrial and Labour Relations. Mandeep contributes resilience, adaptability, and a strong growth mindset, while Yashpreet, an artist with a background in Commerce and Digital Marketing, adds creativity and presentation flair.

Preparation for the competition began months in advance. Coaches Zelda Craig and Irina Doering worked closely with the team starting in October, guiding them through case analysis, presentation skills, and strategy.

In the lead-up to the event, local HR professionals volunteered their time to evaluate practice cases, providing valuable feedback and networking opportunities. Practice sessions were recorded to support reflection and continuous improvement, and a mock competition with UNBC during Reading Break offered an additional opportunity to refine their approach.

For the team, the experience extended beyond competition.

“These moments keep us grounded and remind us that strong workplaces, like strong teams, grow through trust, teamwork, and care,” said Ogochi. “Through the HRC West competition, we are excited to learn, collaborate, and showcase the impact of meaningful and human-focused HR.”

The team also extended their gratitude to the many supporters who contributed to their success, including local HR professionals Mania Matloubi, Jezer Narciso, Denise David, Kartik Sethi, Krystal Devauld, Susan Stearns, Willow Zambrano, Nelson Onwurili, Muhammad Rahman, Erin Jepson, Sarah Thompson, Rachel Halter, Stacey Pickering, and Katherine Bick, as well as their sponsors.

Together, their efforts highlight the strength of CNC’s Human Resources programming and the value of community partnerships in preparing students for meaningful careers.