A team of five students from Youngstown State University’s Williamson College of Business Administration will represent the university at the Econ Games competition on March 26, marking YSU’s first appearance in the national economics and data analytics challenge.

Competing under the team name Penguin City Analysts, the YSU team includes Sauda Hossain, Jan Harter, Nathaniel Huynh, Nabayt Kibreab and Surangana Rijal, a diverse group united by a shared interest in economics, analytics and real-world problem-solving.

At the Econ Games, organizers design experiential learning events that connect students with real-world opportunities to apply classroom knowledge in practical settings. Undergraduate participants engage in a data analytics and research competition focused on solving real-world economic and business problems, gaining hands-on experience with challenges they may encounter in their professional careers.

From the first week of the semester, the team has worked intensively to prepare for the competition, applying classroom theory to practical, data-driven challenges under the guidance of faculty advisers Jungpil Chung and Yogesh Uppal.

“From the first week of the semester to the competition on March 26, we train, prepare and grow. We are grateful for the guidance of Dr. Chung and Dr. Uppal,” the team shared. “We are confident, ready and excited to give our best at the competition.” The faculty advisers emphasized the value of experiential learning and the team’s growth throughout the semester.

“As first-time participants, our main goal is to give students a real, hands-on experience where they can put what they’ve learned into practice on real-world problems,” Chung and Uppal said. “The team has shown strong dedication and growth throughout the semester, and we’re excited to see them represent Youngstown State University. We hope they learn from the competition and continue to grow from the experience.”

Although this is the university’s first time competing in the Econ Games, the Penguin City Analysts bring a wide range of academic and professional experiences.

Hossain, a junior majoring in business economics and accounting, is eager to apply economic theory in a competitive setting. Huynh, a business analytics and economics student, works as a continuous improvement engineer at Hunt Valve and is an American Tech Fellow at Palantir, with a strong interest in real-world data applications.

Kibreab, a senior majoring in computer science and economics with a minor in mathematics and a certification in data analytics, focuses on data science, fintech, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship.

Rijal, a junior majoring in business analytics and economics, is originally from Nepal and works as a resident assistant at YSU, while Harter, a senior majoring in business analytics and economics, is an intern at the Small Business Development Center in Youngstown.

Together, the Penguin City Analysts exemplify the Williamson College of Business Administration’s emphasis on experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and workforce-ready skills. The team looks forward to representing Youngstown State University while gaining hands-on experience in economic analysis and competitive problem-solving.