Small IS Team Wins Big

PROVO, Utah – May 02, 2016 – A small team of Marriott School of Management information systems students came up with big rewards at recent competitions hosted by the Association of Information Technology Professionals.

Despite more than 450 students from around the country competing and in attendance, a team of just six BYU students combined to place seven times in five competitions, the most of any school. From entries in mobile development to systems analysis, the group showcased a strong and comprehensive skill set in the information field.

“The students performed very well and represented BYU marvelously both in their academic prowess and in their demeanor,” says Greg Anderson, associate teaching professor and team adviser. “We are very proud of them all.”

BYU participants included information systems juniors Brandon Buchanan from Centerville, Utah; Trevor Harmon from Orem, Utah and Andy Mockler from Fort Wayne, Ind., along with seniors Braden Casperson from Twin Falls, Idaho, Kyle Longhurst from Orem, Utah, and Dan Morain from San Jose, Calif.

Casperson and Longhurst led the way with a first place finish in the business analytics event. The duo used skills learned just recently in a data mining class to predict whether a bank could expect a potential client to open a new bank account based on the number of marketing phone calls that person received.

“It was all things we have learned in classes,” Casperson says. “The BYU information systems program has a really high standard of quality. It’s a lot of work, but coming out of it you know how to do real on-the-job tasks and people recognize that.”

Awards Summary

1st, Business Analytics — Braden Casperson and Kyle Longhurst
2nd, Mobile App Development — Andy Mockler and Dan Morain
2nd, Java Developer — Andy Mockler and Dan Morain
2nd, Systems Analysis — Braden Casperson and Andy Mockle
​3rd, Mobile App Development — Trevor Harmon and Kyle Longhurst
Honorable mention, Systems Analysis — Trevor Harmon and Dan Morain
Honorable mention, Visual Studio — Brandon Buchanan and Dan Morain

The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems and public management. The school’s mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,300 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.