ETAMU Hackathon Fall 2024 Showcases Student Innovation and Business Expertise

East Texas A&M University proudly hosted the Hackathon Fall 2024, an event that demonstrated the ingenuity, technical expertise, and collaborative spirit of its Marketing and Business Analytics students. Organized by the Department of Marketing and Business Analytics and sponsored by the College of Business, the weeklong competition, held November 14-19, brought together 20 talented students to solve a complex real-world business challenge.

The case study for the hackathon centered on improving Amazon's ranking system for customer-prioritized product features, using Estée Lauder products as an example. Students were tasked with utilizing Generative AI to analyze customer reviews, extract meaningful features and optimize product recommendations. The challenge required a blend of technical skills, critical thinking and innovative problem-solving—qualities that ETAMU students showcased in abundance.

Over the course of five days, eight teams worked to develop data-driven solutions that culminated in a presentation to an external panel of distinguished judges. Trang Nguyen, tax director at Triton Partners, and Jasmin Ng, senior business data transformation manager at M&G PLC, brought their professional expertise to the judging process, providing valuable feedback and selecting the winners based on their creativity, implementation and professionalism.

The event concluded with an awards ceremony on November 21 at the East Texas A&M Dallas site, where faculty and participants gathered to celebrate the students’ achievements. Dr. Zaki Malik, head of the Department of Marketing and Business Analytics, commended the students on their outstanding work and stressed the importance of hackathons in preparing students for successful careers in business and technology.

“Hackathons like this one are a testament to the strength of our program and the ingenuity of our students,” Malik noted. “They provide an invaluable opportunity for students to apply their knowledge, solve real-world problems, and demonstrate their ability to compete and succeed on both state and national stages. The recognition our students consistently earn is a reflection of the dedication and excellence we foster in the College of Business.”

First place was awarded to Faisal Rahman Chowdhury and Tazeen Rashid for their innovative and technically advanced solution.

“Participating in this hackathon deepened my knowledge of machine learning, natural language processing, and sentiment analysis,” Rashid shared. “It was a challenging but highly rewarding experience.”

Other notable achievements included the Best Professionalism and Best Actionable Recommendation awards, which went to a team led by Princess Odio. Reflecting on the event, Odio said, “This hackathon provided a unique opportunity to work with real data and gain hands-on experience. The support from the College of Business was instrumental in making this event a success.”

Hackathon Fall 2024 highlighted the College of Business's commitment to fostering innovation and preparing students for real-world challenges. By providing opportunities to work on complex business problems, the event not only enhances students' technical and professional skills but also strengthens connections with industry professionals and alumni.

As East Texas A&M continues to prioritize experiential learning and innovation, events like Hackathon Fall 2024 reaffirm its role as a leader in business education, producing graduates who are well-prepared to excel in a rapidly evolving business landscape.