After nearly two decades running one of the country's premier graduate health administration case competitions, Jana Green knew what she needed from an event app — and she knew when a platform wasn't delivering it. UAB Health Administration Case Competition brings together graduate students from CAHME-accredited programmes, faculty members, and industry leaders from across the country for a multi-round competitive event in Birmingham, Alabama. With close to 300 participants, a complex logistics structure involving preliminary, semifinal, and final rounds, and a strict requirement to keep judge identities hidden from students until competition began, the platform running the event needed to do a lot — reliably, cleanly, and at a price that made sense.
The previous platform fell short. After years of using Cvent for registration and trialling its companion app, Jana's team found themselves looking for something better. The event's complexity demanded more: the ability to segment judges from students within the app, push real-time room change notifications as rounds progressed, and deliver a polished, visually strong attendee experience that reflected the calibre of the competition itself.
Jana demoed a lot of options before choosing Eventify. The decision wasn't close. After evaluating competing platforms on features, usability, visual quality, and price, Eventify came out ahead on every measure. The team used almost every feature the platform offered — and students noticed. Social interaction tools drove genuine networking, the app sailed through Apple approval, and by the time the competition wrapped, Jana was already discussing whether to submit through Apple again the following year. The answer was yes.
Keeping Judge Identities Hidden — Until the Right MomentOne of UAB's most important logistical requirements is protecting the integrity of the competition by keeping judge identities concealed from student teams until it begins. Eventify's segmentation capability made this possible within the app itself — separating the judge and student experiences entirely during the competition, then removing that barrier on the final day so participants could connect freely. It was a precise, controllable solution to a requirement that had no easy workaround on previous platforms.
Real-Time Room Change Notifications Across Multiple RoundsUAB's competition structure — preliminary rounds with all teams competing simultaneously, followed by semifinal and final rounds — generates constant logistical movement. Room assignments change. Panels shift. With close to 300 participants spread across a multi-round format, getting accurate information to the right people quickly is critical. Eventify's push notification capability gave Jana's team a direct line to every participant's phone, the moment a change needed to be communicated.
A Full Feature Set, Used End to EndJana's team didn't pick one or two Eventify features and work around the rest — they used almost everything the platform offered. Agenda, panel schedules, notifications, sponsor listings, and social tools all played a role in how the competition was run and experienced. For an event with 19 years of history and a decade of app experience, finding a platform capable of meeting that breadth of need in one place was significant.
Social Features That Drove Real Student NetworkingThe competition has always included a networking prize — awarded to the student who connects most actively with peers and industry leaders. Eventify's social interaction tools gave that prize real traction. Students found the features easy to use, posting and engaging throughout the event in a way that made the networking element feel natural rather than forced. It was one of the standout elements of the attendee experience.
Visual Quality That Matched the Event's StandardFor a national academic competition attracting graduate students, faculty, and industry leaders from across the country, the app needs to look the part. Jana cited Eventify's visual design as one of the key factors in her decision — and in how the event was received. The graphics looked professional, the interface felt polished, and the overall experience reflected the calibre of the competition it was supporting.
Back-End Usability That Made Adoption WorkAn app only delivers value if the team behind the event can use it confidently — and if participants actually adopt it. Jana identified ease of use on the back end as a critical success factor, and Eventify delivered on both sides of that equation. The organising team could manage the platform without friction, and participants engaged with the app throughout the event without barriers.
"Your features for the price were just hands down a winner compared to the competition.""The social interaction stuff — the students really liked that a lot.""The ease of use and how good it looks — we appreciated that."
The Department of Health Services Administration at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) focuses on preparing students for leadership roles in healthcare management. It offers programs that combine business, policy, and healthcare knowledge to equip graduates with the skills needed to improve healthcare systems, manage organizations, and enhance patient care outcomes.
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