UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Shiv Waleacha, a one-year master’s in business analytics student at the Penn State Smeal College of Business, recently led his team to a first-place finish in the 2024 Super Analytics Challenge at the University of Pittsburgh.
Hosted by the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University and other institutions, the Super Analytics Challenge is a three-week hackathon-style competition that brings together graduate students to tackle pressing societal issues using data analytics.
This year, the challenge addressed the workforce shortage in southwestern Pennsylvania’s advanced manufacturing industry. Waleacha's team, representing Smeal, Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne stood out among 10 teams comprising five students each.
Presenting to the judging panel of industry experts, Waleacha's team impressed the judges with their plan to address the workforce shortage by leveraging remote training applications. Their innovative idea involved bringing training directly to high schools, where students can train on simulators and be certified, making them job-ready.
Upon winning the challenge, Waleacha expressed his gratitude.
“It’s been an incredible learning experience, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with students from other universities and industry experts,” he said. “This victory is a testament to our hard work and dedication to finding innovative solutions to complex problems.”
The Super Analytics Challenge provides students like Waleacha with a platform to apply their analytical skills to real-world issues and offers networking opportunities with senior executives, technology experts and community leaders. Winners of the challenge are encouraged to apply for a Bridge Program fellowship, which allows them to further develop and implement their solution idea.