Schreiner University Students to Sell a Helicopter in “The Sales Showdown” as Aviation and Sales Programs Join Forces

Aviation Studies and the Center for Professional Selling & Leadership bring a real aircraft and a live board-of-directors competition to campus during Business Week

KERRVILLE, TEXAS — Schreiner University students will get a rare chance to sell an emergency helicopter this month, as two of the university’s newest programs team up for The Sales Showdown, a campus-wide sales competition held during Business Week, Oct. 19–21.

The competition is a partnership between Schreiner’s Aviation Studies program, led by Carl Davis, and the Center for Professional Selling & Leadership (CPSL), led by Shawn Hamilton. On Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 1 p.m., a real helicopter will land on campus, giving students and visitors an up-close look at the kind of aircraft at the center of the contest.

“Aviation is a business as much as it is a technical field,” said Davis, Director of Aviation Studies. “Every aircraft that flies was sold by someone who understood what the customer needed. Bringing a helicopter to campus lets students from every major see the opportunities in aviation, and lets our aviation students see how much their careers will depend on communication and trust.”

Selling to a board, not a shopper

The Sales Showdown is built around business-to-business selling, the kind of complex sale that drives careers in aviation, healthcare, technology, manufacturing and nearly every other industry. Students play the role of a sales representative for a helicopter company, pitching an emergency helicopter to a fictional regional consortium of businesses, community agencies and the university itself.

To win, students must uncover the buyer’s needs, build a business case, answer tough questions and ask for a commitment. No sales experience or aviation knowledge is required, and the contest is open to every Schreiner student, regardless of major.

“Most students think of sales as what happens in a store,” said Hamilton, who leads CPSL. “In the real world, the most important sales are made to organizations, through conversations with people who have real problems to solve. Whether a student becomes a pilot, a nurse, an engineer or an entrepreneur, the ability to understand people and make a persuasive case is what opens doors. This competition gives every student a chance to discover that skill.”

How the competition works

• Qualifying round, Oct. 10–21: Students practice and compete on Replay, an AI role-play platform built for sales education. They sell to an AI buyer from any phone or laptop, as many times as they like, and their best score counts. A short lesson on sales questioning helps first-time competitors prepare.
• Final 8 announced, Oct. 21, 3 p.m.: The eight highest-scoring students advance.
• Live finals, Oct. 21, 3:30 p.m.: Finalists present to a mock board of directors made up of industry and university leaders, in front of a live audience, and ask the board to commit to buying the helicopter.
• Prizes: $2,000, $1,500 and $1,000 scholarships for the top three finishers, plus three $250 scholarships awarded by random drawing to students who complete the AI challenge.

Business and community leaders from across Texas and beyond are being invited to serve on the judging board.

See the helicopter

The helicopter is scheduled to land on campus at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and will be on display [location to be confirmed] ahead of the 3:30 p.m. finals, and the campus community is invited to see it. Students interested in aviation careers, healthcare, business or simply a close look at a working aircraft are encouraged to stop by.

Schreiner students can find registration details on flyers across campus and from their professors.

About Aviation Studies at Schreiner University

Schreiner’s Bachelor of Science in Aviation Studies combines classroom instruction with FAA Part 141 flight training at Schreiner Field at Kerrville-Kerr County Airport. Students earn FAA Private and Commercial Pilot certificates with an instrument rating, with optional multi-engine and flight-instructor credentials. Learn more at schreiner.edu/academics/aviation-studies.

About the Center for Professional Selling & Leadership

The Center for Professional Selling & Leadership at Schreiner University prepares students from any major to launch careers in professional sales. CPSL offers a 12-credit-hour certificate open to all majors, sales competitions and internships with real companies.

About Schreiner University

Founded in 1923, Schreiner University is a private university in Kerrville, Texas, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), Schreiner offers undergraduate and graduate programs grounded in personalized education and a commitment to student success. Its mission is to prepare students for meaningful work and purposeful lives in a changing global society through an educational experience that integrates academic learning with personal growth. Learn more at schreiner.edu.

Media contacts

Michael Bennett, Office of Marketing and Communications · mbennett@schreiner.edu · (830) 792-7462

Shawn Hamilton, Center for Professional Selling & Leadership · shamilton@schreiner.edu · (830) 792-7255

Carl Davis, Director of Aviation Studies · CDavis@schreiner.edu · (830) 895-7115