Rattlers on the Rise: Lauren Mickens Turns Setbacks into Success Through National Case Competitions
Tallahassee, Fl.- When Lauren Mickens didn't secure a summer internship, she refused to let the disappointment define her.
Instead, the Florida A&M University (FAMU) senior turned a setback into an opportunity, using national case competitions to sharpen her leadership skills, strengthen her professional network and prepare for a career in the aerospace and aviation industries.
"I didn't get an internship this summer, so I thought maybe I'll just go out and do a couple of case competitions," Mickens said. "That kind of became the route I took."
That decision quickly paid off.
A supply chain management major in FAMU's School of Business and Industry (SBI), Mickens and her teammates captured first place in the Shell OneHBCU National Case Competition, earning a $2,000 prize for each team member while presenting innovative business solutions to industry professionals. The victory reinforced the confidence she had developed through SBI and motivated her to pursue additional competitive opportunities.
"After we won nationals, I felt like I could really do this," Mickens said. "I started applying for every Thurgood Marshall opportunity I could find because I realized these competitions could open doors just like internships."
The 2026 Thurgood Marshall College Fund Innovation Challenge brought together students
from HBCUs across the country to apply their knowledge, collaborate with peers and
showcase innovative solutions to industry challenges. (Photo courtesy: Lauren Mickens)
The Orlando, Florida, native continued that momentum this summer when she represented FAMU as the University's only participant in a national case competition hosted by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund in partnership with CSAA Insurance Group and Guidewire.
Working alongside students from several historically Black colleges and universities,
Mickens helped develop a proposal that reimagined renters insurance for college students
living in residence halls. Serving as the team's leader, she helped guide the group
to a second-place finish, with each member earning a $500 award.
Participants in the 2026 Thurgood Marshall College Fund Innovation Challenge pose
with scholarship awards following the national competition. Florida A&M University
student Lauren Mickens is pictured front row, second from left. (Photo courtesy: Lauren
Mickens)
Although she entered the competition as FAMU's lone representative, Mickens said the experience reinforced the confidence and professionalism she developed through SBI.
"I held it down," she said. "I got put on a pretty challenging team, but it became a teaching moment. I was the conductor—the leader of the group—and we came in second place."
The competition also introduced Mickens to career opportunities she had never seriously
considered.
"Insurance is something people don't really think about as a career," she said. "It opened my eyes to how many opportunities are there and how supply chain management can fit into the software, operations and logistics side of the business."
The experience also tested her ability to lead under pressure. During the final presentation, members of her team lost their place, requiring Mickens to step in, improvise and keep the presentation moving.
"I got a lot of compliments because I had to improvise and keep everything moving," she said. "SBI prepares you for moments like that. They teach you how to think on your feet, communicate and represent FAMU well."
Rashada Houston Turner, MBA, associate instructor in the Department of Management and Marketing, said Mickens has distinguished herself by pairing quiet confidence with a relentless drive to improve.
Students representing HBCUs from across the nation gather during the 2026 Thurgood
Marshall College Fund Innovation Challenge, fostering collaboration, networking and
leadership development throughout the competition. Lauren Mickens is pictured front
center. (Photo courtesy: Lauren Mickens)
"Lauren stands out because she is the perfect example of being humble but hungry," Houston Turner said.
"Beneath her calm presence is a highly competent, disciplined and competitive student with a genuine quest for excellence. She consistently accepts challenges, seeks feedback and applies that insight to strengthen her performance. Her humility, self-discipline and determination will continue to distinguish her long after graduation."
Houston Turner said case competitions are a defining part of the SBI experience because they give students the opportunity to apply classroom learning to real business challenges.
"Students don't simply graduate knowing business concepts," she said. "They leave SBI prepared to enter the workplace, contribute meaningful ideas and lead from day one."
Mickens credits SBI's faculty and mentors for encouraging students to pursue opportunities that challenge them while representing the University with professionalism and confidence.
Later this summer, she will compete in another national case competition with Molson Coors Beverage Company before attending the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Academy, where she will network with recruiters from several nationally recognized companies. She hopes those experiences will ultimately lead to a career with Shell following graduation.
Conference materials, including a participant badge, notebook and commemorative items,
welcomed Lauren Mickens to the 2026 Thurgood Marshall College Fund Innovation Challenge.
(Photo courtesy: Lauren Mickens)
A second-generation Rattler whose mother and sister are both FAMU alumni, Mickens
said choosing FAMU was an easy decision.
Although she was accepted to several historically Black colleges and universities, she said FAMU's culture, community and nationally recognized School of Business and Industry made it stand apart.
"I applied to almost every HBCU, but I chose FAMU because of the culture and the community," Mickens said. "You're not just a number here. Everybody goes out of their way to help you, and that's something I wanted."
Now entering her senior year, Mickens plans to continue competing in case competitions while encouraging other students to embrace opportunities that stretch them beyond their comfort zones.
For Mickens, what began as an alternative to a summer internship has become a launching pad for leadership, professional growth and future career success. Through every competition, she continues to demonstrate that resilience, preparation and a willingness to embrace new challenges can lead to opportunities far greater than originally imagined.
Media Contact:
Ashley Flete
Senior Communications Specialist
ashley1.flete@famu.edu
