University Communications

A team of students from the University of Southern Indiana Romain College of Business was named Overall Champion at The Econ Games 2022. The two-day event was hosted by Gatton College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. This is the second year students from USI have entered the competition which began in 2018.  

USI team members were economics majors Parker Collignon, Jailine McElroy, Cole Stephenson and Elijah Toavs. Students competed in a data analytics and research event designed to help them solve real-world problems. This year’s corporate sponsor was Fischer Homes, which provided the dataset and challenged teams to identify areas/cities into which the home builder should expand. The USI team focused on quantitative and qualitative data, which the judges selected as the strongest presentation.  

“This was a unique opportunity in experiential learning,” says Collignon. “We had the chance to problem solve using data analytics software, apply our knowledge from the classroom and work as a team, all while learning more about the economics of the homebuilding industry. Our creative approach quickly won approval from the judges. It was a ton of fun.”   

Students prepared for the games by completing virtual training on data cleaning, Stata and Tableau. While the 2021 games were held virtually, the 2022 in-person event allowed for networking opportunities for both students and faculty. The games provide students with the chance to connect with industry leaders and engage in meaningful discussion. The USI team also attended a virtual presentation by John A. List, an American economist at the University of Chicago who serves as the Kenneth C. Griffin Distinguished Service Professor.  

This is the second year for faculty advisor Dr. Daria Sevastianova, Associate Professor of Economics, to lead USI students at the competition. USI competed against teams from 10 universities, including University of Kentucky, Northern Kentucky University, University of Delaware, University of Cincinnati, University of North Carolina and Murray State. As the winning team, USI received a cash prize of $1,500 (divided and distributed equally to the four students) and five-year Stata licenses. 

“This will be on the list of unforgettable experiences for these students while at USI,” says Provost Dr. Mohammad Khayum. “This is a wonderful accomplishment by the students and a great validation of the contribution faculty members make to advance the skills and capabilities of students."