SU Team is Finalist in 2003 College Federal Challenge

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University was one of the finalists competing in this year’s College Federal Challenge recently held at the Baltimore Federal Reserve Bank.

Perdue School of Business team members Matthew Bourn, Julie Crew, Stephen Day, Jeffrey Erik Hanson, Matthew McMaster and alternate Thomas Binkowski placed SU in the top three at this year’s event. Dr. Hong Yao of the Economics and Finance Department serves as faculty advisor.

Officials told Yao the judging was close. This is the second year SU has done well, winning the competition last year.

The competition calls for five-member teams to undertake research, analyze data about current and near-term economic conditions, and decide on and recommend a specific course for monetary policy by deciding whether to raise, lower or maintain interest rates. The competition culminates with each team’s 20-minute presentation before a panel of judges at a mock meeting of the Open Market Committee.

During its presentation, SU’s team raised concerns about the effects of fast-growing productivity, disinflation, and government and trade deficits on current and future economies.

“Two judges said they were very impressed with SU’s presentation and commended our students,” said Yao. “Our students demonstrated their deep grasp of the economic information and theories and were very familiar with the current economic condition.”

Some dozen colleges and universities competed in the event including the U.S. Naval Academy and Gettysburg College, whose teams the Perdue School bested.

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.