Hunt Business Students Compete in HSI Battle of the Brains

The Big Picture

Six students from the Woody L. Hunt College of Business represented UTEP at the HSI Battle of the Brains in Austin, marking the university’s first-ever appearance at this national competition for Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

Now in its fifth year, the competition serves as both an academic national championship and a recruiting showcase that connects top Hispanic talent with leading companies across the country.

Why It Matters

Teams from HSIs nationwide had just 24 hours to develop and pitch a solution to a real-world business challenge. The event pushed students to combine technical knowledge, creative thinking, and leadership under pressure—skills that are critical to success in today’s fast-changing business world.

What Happened

The Hunt team drew from its members’ leadership experience across student organizations to collaborate on financial solutions, build websites, and design presentations. Along the way, they honed essential skills like communication, innovation, and time management.

Students also networked with executives from Dell, Thrivent, eBay, Capital One, and The Home Depot, gaining insight into career paths, post-graduate opportunities, and scholarship programs.

Representing UTEP and the Hunt College of Business were:

• Edgar Loya

• Sebastian Rendon Larrea

• Missy Rivera

• Emily Sanchez

• Grecia Silva

• Viviana Zambrano

Their efforts paid off — three members of the team brought home over $9,000 in scholarships, including:

• Sebastian Rendon Larrea – $5,000 (eBay)

• Emily Sanchez – $2,500 (The Home Depot)

• Edgar Loya – $2,000 (Dell)