Three representatives of Seton Hill University’s Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) chapter participated in the Northeast Regional SHRM Human Resource (HR) Games held at Shippensburg University on March 5 and 6, 2010, as part of the student SHRM conference. Twenty-two schools participated in the competition. Seton Hill’s team participated in five rounds.

The HR Games consist of a two-day series of game show style matches between teams composed of three undergraduate students from various colleges and universities. The questions for the matches are divided into categories similar to those used in the Professional Human Resource certification exam (Strategic Management Practices, Workforce Planning and Employment, Human Resource Development, Total Rewards, Employee/Labor Relations and Risk Management). In each round, students select points and a category of questions.

Seton Hill University business human resource majors, Adam Kensey of Indiana, Pa., Brittany Marton of Greensburg, Pa. and Lauren Rootham of The Woodlands, Texas, participated in the event. Kensey serves as the president of Seton Hill’s SHRM student chapter. Marton is the vice president for SHRM. Megan Duffy, of North Huntingdon, Pa., was a very active member of the team’s practice events. Students Rachel Eaglehouse, of Latrobe, Pa., and Gia Wenino, of Telford, Pa., who serves as the chapter's awards officer, helped the team prepare for the event. Additionally, members of the Westmoreland Human Resource Association met and practiced with the team before they left for the competition.

According to Cathy Giunta, associate professor of business at Seton Hill University, the HR Games are an effective way to motivate and prepare students for the SHRM’s Professional in Human Resources certification.

“There are many benefits to the HR Games. They are an event that offers HR majors the opportunity to network with professional chapter volunteers and other colleges’ students in a meaningful way,” said Giunta. “The effort it takes to plan and participate in the competition is worthwhile. The students receive an opportunity to compete with other students and showcase their knowledge to HR practitioners. It is prestigious to compete in this intercollegiate competition!”