MSUM ACM brings home TWO awards from the Data Derby competition!
MSUM students showcased their data prowess at the recent Data Derby, held on April 20th, 2024 in Eden Prairie, MN. The competition, designed to test students’ analytical and debate skills on real-world data challenges, saw participants from across Minnesota engaging in two distinct events: the Datagon and the Datathon.
The Datagon, a one-day debate focusing on the controversial topic of whether AI belongs in education, challenged teams to argue their stance using a blend of rhetorical and substantive knowledge. Despite facing a truncated argument period in the final round, our team – consisting of Seth Bentley, Judah Nava, James Zook, and Asadbek Akbarov – navigated the constraints brilliantly to clinch first place.
In the Datathon, a month-long data analysis marathon centered on the theme of education costs, teams had several weeks to prepare their presentations based on detailed datasets provided at the outset. Here, our other team – including Asadbek Akbarov, Seth Bentley, Tyler Sather, and Alex Botz – adapted to a last-minute change that reduced their presentation time from 15 to 10 minutes. Their ability to convey compelling analysis in the shortened timeframe earned them a commendable third place.
Congratulations to both teams (pictured)!
