Johnson & Johnson competition winners put their skills to good use

By Teri Olsen
Collegian Reporter
March 29, 2006

Teamwork seems to be the winning ingredient for three lucky La Salle students who won the Johnson & Johnson Case Competition two years in a row. After winning the case last year, Elizabeth Bukis, Sandra Jules and Vi Vu decided to team up for a second time. The women were awarded $1,000 to split among themselves.

The Johnson & Johnson Case Competition is based on an actual scenario that the company uses to train its new employees. Competing students had to complete a written and financial analysis using limited data about a new drug seeking a patent. The competition addresses three options.

First, the students had to see the new drug as an authorized generic version. Second, they had to develop and sell the drug in an injectable form, rather than pill form, which could be delivered three times a day.

Finally, the competitors had to conduct research to gain FDA approval to use the new drug to treat diseases or conditions that are not presently approved for but are prescribed off-label. Without a right or wrong answer, the key to winning the competition was how well each team defended its hypothesis and supported it with detailed facts.

Jules, a junior accounting major, said “the case is all about teamwork and the experience.”

“The main reason I entered the competition is because all the professors say how it is great for your resume and to obtain employment with Johnson & Johnson,” Bukis said. “And last year it did assist me in obtaining a co-op with Centocor, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary.”

Since the three of them worked so well together the first time, Jules said, they decided to stay together for this year’s competition.

“I had to sacrifice a little of my school work time to do the case, and I am happy I did it,” Jules said.

Jules, along with teammates, Bukis, a senior accounting major, and Vu, a junior marketing major, will next present their case to Brandi Herman at Johnson & Johnson Corporate on April 11. If they win again, La Salle will be awarded $3,000; $2,000 of which will be given to the students.

“This competition is great experience for us because it allows us to see what its like to work on a real case for Johnson & Johnson,” Vu said. “We have worked hard and hopefully it will pay off.”

olsent1@lasalle.edu