Queensborough’s Fed Challenge Team Competed in a Scrimmage Against the Boston Champion, North Shore Community College
Queensborough’s Fed Challenge team made a strong showing in a scrimmage with the Boston Champion, North Shore Community College, held here on campus, May 10.
Queensborough’s students competed in the Maiden Lane Division, presenting for ten minutes on a case study provided by the Federal Reserve of New York. Afterwards there was a Q&A from judges who are New York Fed economists and staff who are experts on economics and monetary policy.
Team members remarked that the Fed Challenge opened their eyes to the ambiguous and complex nature of the economy and that mainstream news is not always the final word. All of the students agreed that ‘coming together and speaking together from one voice, regardless of ethnicity or background, was an extremely rewarding, unforgettable experience’.
Sebastian Murolo, Business, CPA, MBA, CMB and faculty advisor/coach said that, “Our students competed on a very high level and were extremely prepared by studying scripts similar to the ones reviewed by Federal Governors. They committed to many hours of preparation, including evenings and weekends to learn about issues like consumer confidence, unemployment and inflation. The goal for our students is to understand the complexities of the monetary process while honing their skills as presenters and team players.”
Student presenters Pudens Anilus and Chung Yu Sunny Cheng are graduating this spring and will both move on to Baruch College where they will major in Finance and Accounting, respectively. Erick Solis, also graduating this month, is currently undecided on which college or university he will attend.
This was the first scrimmage for team members Jessica Schuler and Christian Ramjas. They plan to begin preparing for next year’s Fed Challenge competition.
Last year, Queensborough students secured third place among the finalists in the Maiden Lane Division competition, which started with about 40 colleges.
Professor Murolo added, “We have been meeting with North Shore since 2011, visiting each other on alternative years. These experiences have been invaluable, providing our students opportunities to see other presentations and engage with the judges.
Professor Murolo expressed his deep gratitude for the support of Dr. Kathy Villani, Chairperson and Professor, Business, along with Dr. Roman Vragov, Business and Dr. Chukwudi Ikwueze, Social Sciences.
The Fed Challenge at Queensborough was established in 2008 under the guidance of Business professors Dr. Edward Hanssen, now retired; and Dr. Christine Mooney. Previous advisors include Business professors Dr. Stephen Hammel and Professor Linda Meltzer.
Financial support for the Fed Challenge has been provided by Frank Korzekwinski, Sr. Executive Vice President & Chief Real Estate Lending Officer at Flushing Bank.
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