On Feb. 15, The Towson University College of Business and Economics will present The Associate competition, an adaptation of NBC’s reality show, “The Apprentice.”

The competition, now in its seventh year at TU, gives eight senior business students the opportunity to work with real cases and showcase the knowledge and skills in market strategy, finance and business planning they have acquired at the university.

“It’s a testing ground to apply all you have learned in the classroom to actual cases and actual companies,” professor Laleh Malek, director of professional experience, said “It’s a great learning experience.”

Past participating companies in the competition include Hershey’s Chocolate, Target, Sherwin Williams, McCormick and Company, and Bank of America.

To be eligible for the competition, applicants must be graduating seniors in the business major. Along with a resume and faculty recommendation, applicants were judged on an eight-minute video presentation they created expressing why they should be selected.

The eight students will be divided into two teams to complete a project. Each week at the “boardroom,” one student on the losing team will be eliminated.

The members of Team A are Rachael Pashkevich, concentrating in legal studies; William Fernandes, concentrating in computer information systems; Kathleen O’Riordan, concentrating in management and human resources; and Stacy Ruddy, concentrating in marketing. Team B includes Ross Friedman, concentrating in accounting; Kyle Harrer, concentrating in computer information systems; Marie Zoscak, concentrating in management; and Giovanna Lamartina, concentrating in marketing.

“I’m looking forward to working with the top business students and meeting the executives of local businesses,” Friedman said. “As I progressed through my years at Towson University, I have been looking forward to this competition to show how Towson modeled me into a leader and a person that wants to succeed.”

What would a spinoff of “The Apprentice” be without a Donald Trump? This year, president and chief executive officer of Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, Kenneth W. DeFontes Jr., will use his expertise to oversee the competition and to name one of the eight students as The Associate in the final boardroom session.

“This is an intriguing and exciting opportunity for Towson students, and I’m extremely pleased to be a part of this unique competition,” DeFontes said in a Towson press release. “I’m looking forward to hearing the original ideas and creative approaches by the teams.”

The competition will be held in Stephens Hall, Room 216, from 5 to 7 p.m. All are welcome to attend.