Ryan Harper ’25, Tess Hawthorne ’25 and Cierra Hopson ’25 lead the way as the first Elon University students to earn Advanced Data Competency Badges from Data Nexus, showcasing their exceptional skills in data analysis, interpretation and application in the workforce.
Sport management majors Ryan Harper ’25, Tess Hawthorne ’25, and Cierra Hopson ’25 have set a new benchmark for academic achievement as the first Elon University students to earn the prestigious Advanced Data Competency Badge from Data Nexus. This accolade highlights their exceptional ability to harness the power of data for decision-making, a critical asset in today’s fast-paced, data-driven world.
In addition to excelling in data intensive designated courses, the three students have leveraged their skills in co-curricular activities, including undergraduate research and case study competitions at national academic conferences.
“Data informs nearly every decision in the world of sports, so proficiency in organizing, visualizing, and analyzing data is invaluable,” said Harper, a sport management and media analytics double major. “Whether it’s analyzing several years’ worth of NFL plays in the R programming language or using Square point-of-sale data to inform real-time decision making for stadium operations, I’ve been able to garner crucial insights.”
Hopson noted her exposure to various data analysis tools has been instrumental in her success in the Sport Marketing Case Study Competition and her research on coaching styles and their impact on athletes. “Collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and communicating results to draw conclusions and enhance decision-making is vital in any industry,” she said.
Crista Arangala, director of Data Nexus and professor of mathematics, emphasized the significant value students gain by working toward – and earning – the Advanced Data Competency Badge. This achievement will set them apart as they enter the workforce.
“Preparing to apply for the Advanced Data Competency Badge helps students tell their data story,” Arangala said. “Employers don’t just want to hear what tools or skills a student has acquired; they want to hear about a student’s passions and how knowledge was applied to real world situations. By applying for the Advanced Data Competency Badge, students both highlight what they have accomplished on their data intensive academic journey and articulate the value of their curricular and co-curricular data experiences.”
Young Do Kim, associate professor of sport management, highlighted that sport management majors are well-equipped to work with data, thanks to the Department of Sport Management’s strong emphasis on data-driven learning.
The department’s Sport Data and Research course and Sport Finance course, both designated as advanced intensive offerings, are required for all sport management majors. Beyond these data intensive courses, students are encouraged to participate in co-curricular data experiences. These opportunities include participation in Society for American Baseball Research Analytics Competition, Sport Marketing Association Case Study Competition, Applied Sport Management Association Student Research Competition, and involvement in the Sports Media Lab.
Hawthorne, a sport management and marketing double major, explained that she has further developed her data analysis and presentation skills through the university’s diverse learning experiences. These opportunities have allowed her to examine the impact of athlete endorsements on sports brands, analyze consumer perceptions of a unique sports drink brand, and explore NBA scoring trends using Excel modeling.
“These experiences have provided me with a deep understanding of how data informs decision-making and have prepared me to excel in the data-driven sports industry,” she said.
ADCB Criteria
Earning the Advanced Data Competency Badge requires meeting the following four criteria (the official guidelines for the Advanced Data Competency Badge can be found here):
- Complete three Data Intensive Designated courses from at least two different disciplines.
- Participate/engage in two unique co-curricular data experiences.
- Submit a 90-second reflective video demonstrating how both curricular and co-curricular experiences have enhanced advanced data proficiency. The video should also highlight specific data examples, sample assignments, and sample projects that align with the Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) of the Data Intensive Designated Courses.
- Take part in a one-hour group discussion to reflect on and share key takeaways from learning experiences.
The Advanced Data Competency Badge is a digital credential offered by Elon University. The badge includes metadata verifying the earning criteria, the issuing date, and the skills covered. Recipients can showcase the badge on various platforms including LinkedIn, websites, email signatures, Twitter/X, Facebook, resumes, and more.