Leanna Moron, George Mason University

Five students from George Mason University’s American Statistical Association Chapter attended the 2016 DC DataFest April 8–10. The weekend-long competition encourages undergraduate students from a variety of disciplines to find innovative ways to analyze Big Data.

The team receives certificates for participation and for the ‘Best Visualization’ award at the 2016 DC DataFest.
Vinh Mai, Sam Brady, Amen Houenouvi, Mo Abouissa, Leanna Moron

The team included Mo Abouissa, a senior majoring in information systems and operations management with a minor in data analysis; Sam Brady, a junior majoring in computer science; Amen Houenouvi, a senior majoring in economics with a minor in data analysis; Vinh Mai, a sophomore majoring in economics with minors in mathematics and data analysis; and Leanna Moron, a junior majoring in human development and family science with a minor in statistics. Moron is also the founder/president of George Mason’s ASA Chapter.

“DataFest gave me a chance to use skills I’ve learned in both my statistics and computer science courses and to better understand the work of a real-world data scientist,” says Brady.

“As an aspiring data scientist, DataFest has taught me what skills are most in-demand right now in the field of data science. I am more motivated than ever to contribute more to the field,” says Houenouvi.

Undergraduate students do the work at DataFest, but graduate students, faculty, and industry professionals are available throughout the weekend for assistance. After two days of intense data wrangling, analysis, and presentation design, each team is allowed no more than five minutes and two or three slides to impress a panel of judges.

Judges gave awards for Best Insight, Best Visualization, and Best Use of Outside Data. This year’s judges included Stephanie Eckman from RTI International, Joy Hackenbracht from Pew Trusts, Michael Sinclair from Mathematica Policy Research, Celeste Stone from American Institutes for Research, and Rick Valliant from the University of Michigan and University of Maryland’s Joint Program in Survey Methodology.

To keep up with George Mason’s ASA chapter, contact gmuamstat@gmail.com.