An undergraduate team of four members of the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Real Estate Organization (REO) represented Texas Tech University in the Sixth Annual ICSC Foundation Case Competition. The team – named The Royal Flush – consists of Rawls College Center for Real Estate (CRE) students Owen Anderson, Hudson Freedle, Eli Huggins, and Amanda Mercer.
Held virtually, the competition challenged teams to evaluate a case requiring both quantitative and qualitative analysis of retail real estate leasing and management. It tasked them with preparing a redevelopment and investment strategy that addressed financial performance, community impact, and long-term objectives of a 460,000-square-foot community shopping center in South Tampa.
ICSC members, who are experienced professionals and leaders in the real estate industry, judged the submissions. Teams from the University of Alabama and Penn State University placed first and second. The Texas Tech team received $1,500 for securing third out of the 18 competing teams, marking a significant achievement for the university and the Rawls College of Business.
Amanda Mercer, a finance ambassador and vice president of marketing for REO, said participating in the competition felt like stepping into a real-world investment setting.
"With tight deadlines, complex assumptions, and the pressure to deliver a professional strategy, it pushed our team to expand our thinking and rely on one another’s strengths,” Mercer said.
The team analyzed a comprehensive case packet with more than 30 pages of property, lease, and market data. In addition to the provided materials, they conducted independent research to gather supplemental market and demographic insights.
For Hudson Freedle, vice president of industry engagement for REO, the most challenging part of the competition was determining the project’s feasibility.
"We had to evaluate our ideas against current market conditions and decide whether our proposed product could realistically be supported,” he said.
After only one week, the team finalized their investment strategy and prepared a single-take video presentation to articulate the problem, share their analysis, and outline the recommended plan and anticipated impact of their approach. Within the presentation, they showcased a detailed slide deck that included site plans, financial models, and visuals. Each member presented a portion of the content to highlight their individual expertise and team collaboration.
To the team, representing the Rawls College at a national level meant a great deal.
"We put in a ton of work, and to have that effort recognized on a bigger stage felt really rewarding,” said Mercer.
“Placing third nationally reflects the type of students Rawls produces; students who are determined, disciplined, and willing to put in the effort to take on challenging and unique opportunities,” Freedle added.