This year, in the spirit of QUEST, a new case competition has emerged. This past November, QUEST students had the chance to participate in a data analytics case competition, sponsored by PwC. Fitted within an unforgiving 24-hour time period, participants worked on PwC’s “Big Data challenge.” The case entailed consulting for an expanding company as they tried to figure out what different data types they should consider when making their next big transition. Working right through the Mount St. Mary/Terps basketball matchup of the night, QUEST students took to the challenge, starting at 3PM on Friday, November 13th and presenting at 1PM the next day.
A team comprised of current 190H students meeting with their PwC mentor during the kickoff event on Friday.
“I thought the competition was a great way to showcase what QUEST students could do in just a short amount of time,” said Michael George of Cohort 23. “I had a chance to look at the presentations that the other teams put together, and I was really amazed at how much we were able to do in under 12 hours. The case competition was just another way to display the human capital that this program has.”
“It was a good opportunity to work on and develop real world, relevant skills, and it was very helpful to receive feedback from mentors at PwC,” said Ben Hsieh of Cohort 22.
The competition finished with various sorts of prizes being awarded, such as the best team name, awarded to the “Databaes,” a play on “big data” and “BAE.” The grand prize of $250 in Amazon gift cards went to Team BYESS, comprised of Ben Hsieh (Q22), Yash Mehta (Q22), Eleanna Makris (Q25), Sanjay Tohan (Q25), and Sam Lewando (Q25) (in case it’s not clear, the pronounciation is (Bee-Yes), and the letters are an acronym for the beginning letters of each member’s name). $50 Chipotle gift cards were also awarded to the second place team, a group of 190H students who represented Cohort 25 well that day.
Winning team BYESS
Second place team with their Chipotle gift cards!
All participants left with a $10 gift card just for competing. Although some won bigger than others, at the end of the day, we were all very grateful for the opportunity and time that PwC spent.
“Thanks to QUEST Alumnus Joel Liebman (Q14) and his team at PwC for organizing the case competition. Our students really enjoyed working with and learning from their PwC mentors and judges. It was amazing to see the recommendations they came up with in just under 24 hours,” said Jessica Macklin, QUEST’s Program Coordinator.
PwC judges announcing the winners!