Mastercard and the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative invite undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled at Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to solve a real-world problem that speaks to data for social impact and compete for $50,000 in total prize money.

Apply by Tuesday, October 1, 2024!

The Data Challenge tasks teams of 2 to 4 HBCU students with analyzing social impact data to identify new potential solutions and recommendations. Teams will be provided with data from the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and should also explore additional relevant data to solve the challenge. Teams will identify communities, dive into metrics and data, and develop actionable insights for place-based economic and social impact.

Each team will choose an HBCU faculty member to serve as a mentor, and each team will be assigned an industry mentor. These co-mentors will help guide and support the teams' work.

Data Challenge Objectives:
  • Exploratory Data Analysis – Utilize visualization tools to generate insights into the performance of existing locations. Please bring novelty in augmenting given data by exploring additional data.
  • Develop Analytical Solution – Teams should use analytical/statistical/predictive modeling techniques (e.g., machine learning, natural language processing, artificial intelligence) to identify high-potential areas to support expansion.
  • Deliver a Business Presentation – Teams will give a 10-slide PowerPoint presentation with predefined sections (i.e., Objective, Findings, etc.).
Notes:
  1. Data we recommend: https://www.census.gov/topics/research/data-science.html
  2. Do not use data with sensitive attributes or personally identifiable information.
  3. No purchased/exclusive datasets will be allowed.

Submissions: Team submissions include the input data sets, all code with comments, and a 10-slide PowerPoint presentation detailing the work and reasoning of datasets and analysis techniques used. Submissions will be evaluated on the following for a maximum of 25 points:
  • The ability to augment data (7 points)
  • The richness of analysis & insights (6 points)
  • The practicality of the solution and recommendation to the business (4 points)
  • The novelty of visualizations implemented (3 points)
  • The presentation to C-suite executives of the emerging financial organization (5 points)
Mandatory Sessions: All team members must attend all sessions and competition presentations. The sessions provide key insights on how to excel in the challenge. Here are the key dates:
  • 9/12, 5:30-7:00 pm, virtual, Info Session - REGISTER HERE
  • 9/24, 5:30-7:00 pm, Mandatory Session #1
  • 10/3, 5:30-7:00 pm, virtual, Mandatory Session #2
  • 10/16, 5:30-7:00 pm, virtual, Mandatory Session #3
  • 10/30, 5:30-8:30 pm, virtual, Team Presentations Round #1 Competition
  • 11/6, 5:30-7:00 pm, virtual, Mandatory Session #4
  • 11/15, 6:00-8:00pm, Atlanta, GA: Check-In & Networking Mixer
  • 11/16, 9:00-6:00pm, Atlanta, GA: Team Presentations Round #2 (*Travel & lodging support will be provided for teams & faculty mentors)
This opportunity has been made possible by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth.


If you have any questions, please contact:
Jamal Ware, Program Coordinator for Student Development
jware@aucenter.edu
Application Information: Please input your team's information. Teams of 2 to 4 HBCU students are invited to apply. Only ONE person from the team should fill out this application.

This competition is open to All HBCU students.

Question Title

* 1. What is the name of your team?

Question Title

* 2. Contact Information for Team Lead

Question Title

* 3. Team Lead, what is your classification?

Question Title

* 4. Contact Information for Team Member 2

Question Title

* 5. Team Member 2, what is your classification?

Question Title

* 6. Contact Information for Team Member 3 (Optional)

Question Title

* 7. Team Member 3, what is your classification? (Optional)

Question Title

* 8. Contact Information for Team Member 4 (Optional)

Question Title

* 9. Team Member 4, what is your classification? (Optional)

Question Title

* 10. Contact Information of the HBCU faculty person who agrees to serve as a mentor (teams will also be assigned an industry mentor)

Instructions for Resumes: Please upload each resume as a PDF with a page size of 8.5 in x 11 in, and saved as "LastName_FirstName_YourHBCUName."

For example, save the resume as: Abrams_Stacey_SpelmanCollege

Here is a Sample Resume.

Question Title

* 11. Please upload the resume as a PDF of Team Lead.

PDF file types only.
Choose File

Question Title

* 12. Please upload the resume as a PDF of Team Member 2.

PDF file types only.
Choose File

Question Title

* 13. Please upload the resume as a PDF of Team Member 3. (Optional)

PDF file types only.
Choose File

Question Title

* 14. Please upload the resume as a PDF of Team Member 4. (Optional)

PDF file types only.
Choose File
Recommendation: You may want to use a word processor and then copy-paste the responses into the text boxes.

Question Title

* 15. Please describe any data science courses, activities, internships, or research experiences the team members engaged in and any insights gained.

Question Title

* 16. Please describe any data science experience (or curiosity!) the team members have, including project work that leverages R, Python, and/or Tableau to carry out analytics and communicate findings.

Question Title

* 17. Please describe how each member of your team has an interest (or curiosity!) in pursuing a data-oriented career.

Question Title

* 18. Please describe the approach your team would apply to analyze a data-oriented problem.

Question Title

* 19. My Team agrees to:

Question Title

* 20. Stay connected with the AUC Data Science Initiative!

T