Information Systems Students Shine at AITP Competition

PROVO, Utah – May 13, 2014 – After competing with nearly 500 students from more than 50 colleges and universities, six Brigham Young University students took home a record amount of awards from the Association for Information Technology Professionals Competition in Atlanta, Ga.

The BYU students finished with eight trophies — five more than any other school — earning three first-place finishes, three second-place finishes and two third-place finishes. Judges also awarded the students two honorable mentions.

“These students are problem solvers: they know how to get the job done and do it with quality,” says Greg Anderson, the team’s adviser and a BYU professor of information systems. “Our students presented themselves with class and professionalism to the community, and others were so impressed that they asked if they could take pictures of our students with all of BYU’s trophies.” 

Each student won at least two awards, earning BYU not only the most awards per school but also per entrant. The BYU team of information systems majors included senior Porter Hoskins from Loveland, Colo. and first-year master’s students Tahna Black from St. George, Utah; Brent Anderson from Logan, Utah; Laura Cutler from Albuquerque, N.M.; Sean Fisher from Hurricane, Utah; and Brock Walters from Newdale, Idaho.

 “The information systems program is very team-oriented, so I’ve learned how to balance my strengths with those of my teammates,” Cutler says. “Those lessons have proven invaluable in this competition, as well as in my internships, church responsibilities and interpersonal relationships.”

Out of the eight categories they competed in, the students placed or earned honorable mentions in seven. Judges awarded the students for skill in mobile app development, database management, business analytics, Java development and systems analysis. Students earned honorable mentions in Microsoft Office solutions and network design.

The competition, hosted by the AITP's National Collegiate Conference, also provides many networking opportunities with industry thought-leaders and other talented students across the nation. BYU students have been participating in the competition for 11 years, and they have constantly received recognition for their quick thinking under pressure, highly technical solutions and professional presentations.

“The information systems program has prepared us to handle real-world challenges of various shapes and sizes,” Brent Anderson says. “We receive significant hands-on training in a wide variety of technologies and business solutions through classes, club meetings and workshops.”

Below is a breakdown of the BYU awards:

Systems Analysis & Design

1st place: Sean Fisher and Tahna Black

2nd place: Brent Anderson and Brock Walters

Mobile Application Development

1st place: Porter Hoskins and Tahna Black

2nd place: Brent Anderson and Brock Walters

Java Development

1st place: Porter Hoskins and Sean Fisher

2nd place: Brent Anderson and Brock Walters

Database Design

3rd place: Sean Fisher and Tahna Black

Business Analytics

3rd place: Tahna Black and Laura Cutler

Network Design

Honorable mention: Brent Anderson

Microsoft Office Solutions

Honorable mention: Laura Cutler and Porter Hoskins

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, public management, information systems, and entrepreneurship. The school’s mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.