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.”

University of Southern Indiana communications students were recognized as award winners in 10 categories during the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters (IASB) annual college broadcasting competition ceremony in Carmel, Indiana.

IASB is an organization consisting of and supporting Indiana high schools and colleges to promote professional excellence and student recognition in media education.

“I am so very proud of our students’ achievements and success in broadcasting,” says Dr. Melinda Roberts, Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at USI. “These awards reflect the impressive work our students are doing in the radio station and in the classroom, as well as the high-quality faculty that mentor them.”

The statewide competition includes over 30 audio and video categories with a panel of industry professionals to judge entries, awarding first, second and third place in each category. USI students brought home awards in 10 categories, including first place for Radio Play-by-Play, Radio Show and Radio Newscast, to name a few.

“This is another example of the incredible work done by our students. It’s great to see work done for the radio station or in class that is among the best, or the very best, in the state,” says John Morris, Instructor of Radio and Television and General Manager at 95.7 The Spin. “One award that stands out is the “Radio Imaging” category where we took first place. This is the seventh year in a row in which 95.7 The Spin has taken the top honor. This shows the continued excellence of students over the years.”

The complete list of USI award recipients is listed below:

First Place Winners

Radio Play-by-Play – Cole Carter (95.7 The Spin)

Radio Imaging – Dell Cripe & Tyler Huyser (95.7 The Spin)

Radio Show – Max Edwards & Tyler Huyser (95.7 The Spin)

Radio Newscast – Andrew Newland (95.7 The Spin)

Second Place Winners

Student Social Media Presence – Terra Klonne (95.7 The Spin)

Radio Air Personality – Lauren Pilkington (95.7 The Spin)

Radio Sportscast – Matthew Will (95.7 The Spin)

Sound Design – Dalton Biggs (Digital Advanced Audio Production Class)

Third Place Winners 

Radio News Report – Andrew Newland (95.7 The Spin)

Sound Design – Brody Atchley (Digital Advanced Audio Production Class)

The College of Liberal Arts at the University of Southern Indiana offers students the opportunities, first, to develop the fundamentals of a liberal education upon which to base a lifetime of learning and, second, to concentrate in studies that form the foundation for professional pursuits.

The college offers more than 30 majors and emphases and includes the departments of Art and Design, Communications, Criminal Justice, English, History, Performing Arts, Philosophy, Political Science and Public Administration, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies and World Languages and Cultures. Learn more at www.USI.edu/libarts.