ASU wins third place and best presentation award at National HBCU/MI Business Plan Competition

JANS – A team of business students from Alcorn State University earned national recognition at the National HBCU/MI Business Plan Competition hosted by HBCU/MI Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

The team secured third place among 40 competing institutions and received the best presentation award.

Alcorn’s team presented their business concept, Southern Savor, a Muscadine–based wine brand that celebrates Mississippi’s rich agricultural heritage while honoring African American contributions to the winemaking industry.

Team Southern Savor included Cameron Yarber, a finance major from Jackson, MS; Destiny Oscar, an accounting major from Jackson, MS; Brionna Evans, a business administration and marketing major from Gulfport, MS; Tyler Feltson, an accounting major from Shaw, MS; and Nigel Caesar, a business administration and accounting major from Mendenhall, MS.

“This great achievement of winning the best business plan presentation and finishing third in a nationwide competition displays our students’ hard work, dedication, and innovative spirit,” said Dr. Antwon Woods, dean of the School of Business. “Their recognition among peers demonstrates not only our academic quality but also our dedication to developing future business leaders. I am very proud of our future business leaders. They gave an absolutely outstanding presentation, demonstrating the brilliance of Alcorn State University and the Alcorn School of Business with unwavering confidence and poise.”

Southern Savor drew inspiration from Hiram Revels’ legacy and Alcorn State University’s agricultural traditions. The concept combined tradition with cutting-edge technology, offering a refined experience in agritourism, AI-driven wine pairing, and culinary innovation.

Revels was the first African American United States Senator, and he left his position to become the first president of Alcorn.

“As the mentor coach of Team Southern Savor, I am incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication our students poured into this experience,” said Jarita Frazier-King, director of the Women’s Business Center at Alcorn and an entrepreneur. “We tapped into insights and wisdom of seasoned professionals from the festival, hospitality, and restaurant industries. The students embraced every piece of feedback and executed their vision with excellence.”

Alcorn business student Nigel Ceasar reflected on his team’s first encounter with their mentor coach and her unwavering commitment to challenge and prepare them for success.

“I still remember when Dean Woods told us he was bringing in an expert to be our coach and meeting with Mrs. Frazier-King,” said Caesar. “When she told us, ‘I’m trying to win, y’all,’ with that smile on her face, I was thinking, ‘We are in for a trip.’ But I cannot thank her enough for her support and for pushing us to be our best for the competition. Mrs. King always ensured we stayed encouraged and positive, leading up and during the competition, and with Dean Woods and the rest of the School of Business, we had everything we needed for an awesome presentation.”

He continued, “They got us in touch with actual winemakers and entrepreneurs to serve as mock judges, created our signature aprons to give us that extra piece of flair, and just so much more. She and Dean Woods were always ready to give us a helping hand when needed, and again, I can’t thank them enough for that kind of support.”

The National HBCU/MI Business Plan Competition provides students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions with an opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurial talents and innovative business concepts while competing for recognition and resources.