Southern Miss Hosts Fastenal National Sales Invitational, Student Advances to the Final Round

Wed, 11/04/2026 - 09:44am | By: Kevin Buckley

The University of Southern Mississippi College of Business and Economic Development is proudly serving as the host university for the 2026 Fastenal National Sales Invitational (FNSI), a virtual collegiate sales competition that brings together over 900 students from more than 50 universities across the country. Adding to the excitement, Southern Miss Business student Georgia Collins has earned a spot among the competition’s 16 national finalists.

Southern Miss earned the opportunity to host the 2026 competition after Southern Miss Business student So’Niya Thompson captured first place in the 2025 Fastenal National Sales Invitational.

“Hosting a national competition of this magnitude is a tremendous honor for Southern Miss and a testament to the quality of our Professional Sales program,” said Dr. J. Bret Becton, dean of the College of Business and Economic Development. “What makes this especially rewarding is that the opportunity was earned through the outstanding performance of one of our students. We place a high priority on providing meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that prepare our students to succeed in competitive professional environments.”

The competition began in early October with round one, a 90-second elevator pitch conducted on participating university campuses. Students were challenged to quickly establish relevance, communicate value, and earn the opportunity for a follow-up sales conversation.

Southern Miss Business students Michael Clark and Georgia Collins advanced through round one and represented Southern Miss in the second round of competition, which took place virtually at the end of October. Round two moved competitors into a more comprehensive sales environment, where students conducted a discovery-focused sales conversation. 

Following her performance in round two, Collins secured her place among the 16 national finalists who will compete November 16-19. National winners will be announced during the awards ceremony on November 20.

“FNSI creates a unique opportunity for students at every level,” said Kevin Buckley, professor of practice in the School of Marketing and director of the Southern Miss Professional Sales program. “It gives students who are newer to professional sales an opportunity to test and develop their skills, while also creating a national stage for top competitors to distinguish themselves. Having Southern Miss serve as the host university after So’Niya’s win last year makes this year especially meaningful for our program.”

As host university, Southern Miss is partnering with Fastenal on several aspects of the national competition, including competition promotion, kickoff programming, buyer and judge preparation, mentor development and the national awards ceremony.

As part of the host university responsibilities, Buckley is leading training for FNSI buyers, judges and student mentors. More than 90 Fastenal representatives participated in the initial training session.

The training is designed to promote a high-quality and consistent competition experience across participating universities. Buyers and judges are prepared to use buyer guides and scoring rubrics consistently, while mentor training focuses on helping coaches provide objective, actionable feedback tied directly to competition criteria.

The partnership provides Southern Miss students with direct exposure to industry professionals while reinforcing the Professional Sales program’s emphasis on experiential learning, career readiness and excellence at collegiate sales competition.

The Southern Miss Professional Sales program prepares students through sales coursework, role-play training, industry engagement and participation in regional and national collegiate competitions.

About the College of Business and Economic Development 
The College of Business and Economic Development at The University of Southern Mississippi prepares students for success through applied learning, leadership development and nationally recognized academic programs. The AACSB-accredited college offers undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, including an MBA program that has been consistently ranked among leading programs by U.S. News & World Report and Fortune. Experiential learning is central to the college’s approach. Students gain real-world experience through client-based projects, internships, and employer engagement, supported by industry partners and an active alumni network. Located in Scianna Hall, the college provides access to specialized resources including the Center for Entrepreneurship, App Development Lab, Finance Lab, and Professional Sales Lab, where students develop in-demand skills through hands-on application and national competition.