Datathon Challenges Georgetown Students to Harness the Power of Data to Advance Learning

The second annual Datathon at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business once again provided students with a platform to tackle real-world challenges through data analytics, further strengthening the link between academia, industry, and cutting-edge technology. Organized by the accounting faculty and sponsored by Ernst & Young (EY), along with McDonough’s AI, Analytics, and Future of Work Initiative, the event brought together students from across Georgetown University to develop data-driven solutions aimed at improving educational quality.

“Each team contributed a unique blend of expertise – undergraduates with strong Tableau and Alteryx skills, math and computer science students coding their way through the challenge, and graduate students contributing valuable perspectives and leadership,” said Karen Kitching, teaching professor of accounting. “The collaboration among team members was just as impressive as the solutions they presented.”

This year’s Datathon challenged participants to explore key factors influencing learning outcomes, assess the effectiveness of educational interventions, and propose data-driven strategies to enhance education. With students from diverse academic backgrounds, the competition fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, emphasizing the power of data in addressing systemic issues in education.

“We had members studying such different disciplines and it was more than evident that everyone’s background provided a unique skill set that enhanced our final deliverables,” said Delfina Bell (C’25). 

The competition followed a two-stage format. The Virtual Qualifying Round determined the top 75 competitors, who were then placed into five-person teams for the in-person Final Round. Leading up to the main event, students had the opportunity to participate in optional Alteryx training workshops, equipping them with essential data analytics skills. During the Final Round, teams worked through complex datasets, identified trends, and presented actionable insights to a panel of industry experts, including EY professionals and Georgetown faculty members.

The top-performing teams not only received financial rewards, but also earned unique networking opportunities. The first-place team shared a $2,500 prize, while the second- and third-place teams received $1,500 and $500, respectively. Additionally, the top two teams in the Final Round were invited to an exclusive evening with EY leadership at the Capital One Arena to watch a Washington Wizards home game, an opportunity to connect with key industry professionals in an informal setting. The winning team impressed judges with a data-driven proposal focused on promoting educational equity through practical, targeted interventions. Their recommendations included expanding broadband access to improve digital learning outcomes, increasing ESL class availability to better support immigrant and minority students, and providing tutoring programs for low-income communities to help bridge academic gaps.

Beyond the competition, Datathon served as a vital learning experience, equipping students with practical skills in data analysis and problem-solving.

“The Datathon helped me gain confidence in my data skills, learn a new tool like Alteryx, collaborate with smart students, and network with industry professionals from Morgan Stanley and EY,” said Gabriela Pajuelo Chávez (ESM’25). “It has been a highlight of my Georgetown experience.” 

With the continued support of EY and McDonough’s AI, Analytics, and Future of Work Initiative, Datathon has become a flagship event, underscoring the university’s commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and industry engagement.

Reflecting on the growth of the event in its second year, EY partner Mike Risk noted, “We increased student participation, had a more complex and challenging prompt, involved more mentors to support participant teams, added more judges to assist with scoring, and bigger prizes went to more teams. This is all a testament to the level of importance that both EY and Georgetown place on upskilling students in the area of data analytics.” 

As students and sponsors alike look ahead to future iterations, Datathon stands as a powerful example of how data-driven insights can shape a better, more informed future.