Submitted by Tracey McFarland, Business Analytics Officer for the FAA Academy
As a coach, I had the privilege of guiding a talented team through the exhilarating journey of the Third Annual Datathon held February 29 – March 1st at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma. This event was hosted by Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) Data Analytics Club. This two-day data analytics case competition brought together some of the brightest minds in the field. The mission was clear: to analyze complex data, devise innovative solutions, and present findings to a panel of industry experts using real, actual data from Love’s Travel Stops.
Watching my team in action during the Datathon was nothing short of inspiring. Their dedication, creativity, and analytical prowess were on full display. Our task was to optimize Love’s Travel Stops replenishment strategy for Anti-Gel additives. Within one day, we had to build an executive presentation that involved data analytics, providing a plan to optimize the replenishment strategy. The task also involved identifying outliers, trends, and data integrity issues. As the clock ticked down, we collaborated, debated, and fine-tuned our approach. The adrenaline surged as we prepared to present our insights–a mix of excitement and nerves that only a competition like this can evoke. Twenty teams competed against one another.
FAA’s Datathon Team Member, Wesley Cannatti commented, "This competition was created as a way to get more students plugged into the analytics industry and is a great chance to develop skills, learn new things, and network with industry professionals!"
A huge congratulations is due to the FAA’s Datathon Team - Wesley Cannatti, Tristan Schwartz, Kyler Baldwin and Kartikaya Srivastava on securing second place! Our solution stood out for its clarity, depth, and practicality. But it wasn’t just about the ranking; it was about the journey. We had grown as a team, honed our skills, and forged lasting bonds.
It’s events like these where professionals get an opportunity to work with students to provide mentorship, while having the ability to recruit new skillsets. These are only some of the advantages of being involved with the MMAC’s Capstone Program. MMAC Capstone is a community outreach effort in support of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math disciplines (STEM). Students participate in end-of-semester projects sponsored by the FAA. These meaningful opportunities benefit the FAA by augmenting our capabilities at little or no cost, while providing unique career opportunities for the student.
If your organization has any project ideas to submit, please contact Edward Drake. or ext. 4-7327.
