Trinity University Students Advance to Finals of Business Analytics Competition

Trinity University students just went toe-to-toe with big business analytics programs from the U.S. and Mexico, showcasing the power of a small-school approach to problem-solving.

Quang Huy La '26, Luis Miranda Morales '27, Luke Moreton '26, and Ryan O'Leary '27 navigated their way through the tough, multi-stage Manhattan University Business Analytics Competition that began in February and culminated this spring in New York. The students tackled a complex analytics case designed to test their ability to transform data into actionable business insights and finished in the top six out of 20 universities from across the U.S. and Mexico.

"Our students showed that we are competitive with top analytics teams in North America, including teams that had won prior competitions in order to qualify for this one," says Larry Seligman, Ph.D., a Trinity lecturer in business analytics.

For the students, the competition was equal parts resume booster and confidence builder, as each member relied on analytical thinking in high-pressure, real-world settings while sharpening their communication and problem-solving skills.

Morales, a business analytics major who's heading off to a banking and financial services internship this summer with TransPecos Banks, says, "The biggest benefit for me was gaining more real-world experience applying analytics outside the classroom. This was a strong experience to have on my resume and in future interviews."

Moreton, who recently graduated from Trinity with a degree in Earth and environmental geosciences and will enter Rice University's Professional Science Master's Program for environmental analysis, connected the experience to his future career goals.

"I am looking forward to bringing the analytics skills I've sharpened through the competition into that next chapter, which will allow me to address environmental challenges where data-driven decision-making has real impact," he says.

For O'Leary, a business analytics and economics double major preparing for a summer internship with J.P. Morgan, the competition reinforced the importance of translating technical analysis into meaningful action.

"This competition gave me the opportunity to apply classroom concepts to a real-world problem and present my team's findings to a panel of industry professional judges," he says. "After this competition, I am more confident in my ability to communicate and translate technical findings to actionable insights for industry professionals."