Bentley University Senior Maria Sofia Samayoa is the winner of the Tech Apprentice Competition. The program, modeled after The Apprentice TV show, featured 16 students who competed for a paid internship with cutting-edge marketing firm Allen & Gerritsen. Three finalists presented their ideas on at the Allen & Gerritsen offices in Watertown, Mass., on December 8.

“I know that this is a great opportunity, at a great agency, with great people”, says Samayoa, who is graduating this month. “It means I get first-hand experience using digital and mobile technologies and relating them to marketing. And I’m learning from the experts!”

Throughout the semester, students have tackled challenges from high-profile corporate partners, including the Celtics and Converse. The challenges are designed to test the students’ abilities in the areas of emerging technology, digital marketing and social media.

The company participating in the final challenge was Boloco. Students were asked to develop recommendations on how the company can use location-based technologies, such as foursquare, Instagram & Google places, to create buzz about their new store opening in Washington, DC. The panel of judges included Bentley professors, A&G experts and representatives from Boloco.

Bentley media students filmed the competition and, under the supervision of Allen & Gerritsen, will produce a three-episode “Tech Apprentice” reality series. Click here to see the trailer.

Tech Apprentice is presented by Bentley’s Center for Marketing Technology and Allen & Gerritsen.