For economics students, managing the nation’s interest rates is more than theory.

Competing against schools like the Naval Academy and Loyola College in Maryland, McDaniel was a finalist in the 2003 Fed Challenge, an academic competition that brings together teams of college students to discuss the state of the economy and make monetary policy recommendations. McDaniel’s team was advised by Dr. Kevin McIntyre, an assistant professor of economics.

Since Dr. McIntyre’s arrival at McDaniel, he has sought to show students how economic theory relates to the real world. In 2002, McDaniel formed the school’s first team to ever compete in the Fed Challenge.

As they prepared for the Fed Challenge, the McDaniel students had extra motivation: Dr. McIntyre’s fine cooking. Leading up to the competition, Dr. McIntyre invited the team to his house for weekly dinners that included discussions of strategy and of the economy. 

The speaking team for 2004 included Jessica LaForture, Aiyana Paterson-Zinkand, Paul Hugus, and Christina Duvall.