WARRENSBURG, MO – The University of Central Missouri (UCM) is hosting a Computer Information Systems and Analytics (CISA) competition for high school students, which includes the chance to earn scholarships.

Registration is open for the inaugural competition offered by Computer Information Systems and Analytics at UCM.

High school students will demonstrate their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills with current technology trends, such as the impact of big data on businesses and agriculture. Participants will also meet other students and interact with faculty from the UCM Department of Accountancy, Big Data Analytics and Computer Information Systems.

Teams can have up to three students, and a maximum of four teams per high school can participate.

Each team will submit a 10- to 15-minute video presenting their solution to a problem statement, which they will receive after registering. After using a tool to solve the problem, the team should create a slideshow presentation explaining the process, analysis, visualizations, results, sources used and the data story. The video should feature the team members presenting their slideshow.

Registration is free and closes on Friday, March 14. Teams must submit their videos by Friday, March 21.

All participants will be invited to an event on Monday, April 7 at UCM-Lee’s Summit at the Missouri Innovation Campus. Selected teams will present their solutions. The event will include lunch, a training session on Tableau software, and awards.

Each member of the top team will earn a $2,000 scholarship, members of the following three teams will receive a $500 scholarship, and all other participants will receive a $100 scholarship. The scholarships will be granted and applied toward tuition if students pursue CIS or Analytics programs at UCM.

For more information, visit the competition website or contact ahmad@ucmo.edu.

About the University of Central Missouri

With its main campus in Warrensburg, in addition to academic opportunities at the UCM Lee's Summit at Missouri Innovation Campus, the University of Central Missouri is a comprehensive state institution that serves more than 13,000 students, many of them from out-of-state and across the globe. Helping students to “redefine what’s possible,” UCM offers affordable tuition, prestigious and varied academic programs, and faculty members who are dedicated to their success. While benefiting from a support team of mentors, advisors, counselors, classmates, friends and professors, students not only leave UCM well prepared for the job market, but for life, having access to hundreds of opportunities beyond the classroom. Learn more at ucmo.edu.