DataFest Competition Team Support

Attending an ASA DataFest (https://ww2.amstat.org/education/datafest/ ) event is incredibly important for students because it offers a rare, hands-on opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real-world data problems in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Students work in teams to analyze complex, messy datasets, sharpening both their technical skills—such as data cleaning, modeling, and visualization—and their soft skills, including communication, teamwork, and problem-solving under time pressure. DataFest also exposes students to industry-relevant challenges and connects them with mentors, judges, and peers who share similar interests, helping them build professional networks and gain insight into data-driven careers. Overall, the experience builds confidence, deepens understanding of data science in practice, and gives students a meaningful way to stand out academically and professionally.

Last year we sent two teams of 4 students to Cal Poly SLO to compete in their DataFest. The students enjoyed meeting other peers in their field, engaging in the competition to explore real estate data from across the nation to identify the next up and coming areas to live in. One of the teams even received a special honorable mention for their data visualizations. We hope to send 2-3 teams of 3-4 students again to Cal Poly SLO to compete against their students and students from other campuses, including staying Friday and Saturday nights in SLO, engaging in a fun weekend of activities and competition.

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