Catherine Bult, a Master of Public Policy and Administration student in the School of Public Policy (SPP) and a municipal fellow with UMass Lowell’s Clean Energy and Environmental Legacy Transition initiative, is part of a five-member team that won the grand prize in the 2026 Network of Schools of Public Policy Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) Student Simulation Competition, held last month.

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This year’s competition featured a wildfire simulation that placed students in the fictional Mountain West town of Westmount, where they were tasked with collaborating on a comprehensive wildfire mitigation plan while balancing competing stakeholder priorities. 

Participants were assigned roles such as mayor or environmental advocate. While teams worked toward a shared goal, each role included distinct objectives, often creating tensions that mirror real-world public service decision-making.

Bult, who participated as a U.S. Forest Service ranger, notes, “It was tricky, as my role wanted significantly more controlled burning than some of the other roles.”

The simulation is designed to strengthen communication, negotiation and collaboration skills useful in public service. It also incorporates diversity, equity and inclusion considerations as central components of policymaking.

“The lessons I’ve learned at SPP not only prepared me to address the logistical and social elements of the scenario, they also helped me successfully navigate team dynamics in a time-pressured environment,” Bult says.

Her team first earned top honors at a regional simulation hosted by George Washington University, advancing to the global round where they secured the overall victory against teams from around the world. UMass Amherst was also a host site for the competition.

Hosted annually by NASPAA, the competition draws thousands of graduate students from more than 300 member institutions worldwide. Teams compete in a full-day, computer-based simulation, culminating in a scored performance and a formal policy presentation evaluated by academic and professional judges.