The Department of Statistics at Temple University’s Fox School of Business welcomed more than 100 students from Philadelphia area high schools for a statistics and data-analytics challenge.

A team of students from Methacton High School, in Eagleville, Pa., won the Statistics Data Challenge, which pitted 25 teams of four students each in the completion of a written examination that tested their acuity in the areas of statistics and data analytics.

“These skills are the cornerstones of a new undergraduate major we will offer this fall, when we introduce a Bachelor of Science degree program in Statistical Science and Data Analytics,” Fox School Dean M. Moshe Porat said to the student participants. “The demand for undergraduate degrees in statistics is at an all-time high, and is increasing nationally, and we hope you choose Fox to continue your academic careers.”

In addition to the written component, the Statistics Data Challenge also featured a walking tour of Temple’s campus during a lunch-break respite, as well as a few brief presentations from faculty, PhD students, and graduates of the Fox School’s Department of Statistics on the important role of statistics and data analytics in business and industry.

Organized by Dr. Alexandra D. Carides, Assistant Professor of Statistics, in conjunction with the Fox School’s Office of Research, Doctoral Programs, and Strategic Initiatives, the competition’s plans for next year are already in motion.

“This was a great day of intellectual challenge and stimulation, and we look forward to offering an even-higher caliber contest that challenges the region’s brightest high school students – and potentially future Temple students – in statistics next year,” said Carides, who serves as Director of Fox’s newly formed Statistical Science and Data Analytics undergraduate program.