A team of three University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business students recently won a national government case challenge and were awarded $1,000 scholarships for their efforts. You-Fan Chai, Manying Huang, and Alaina Rhoades dedicated months to analyzing data for Denver, Colorado and creating a “Citizen-Centric Report” for the city. The experience was surreal and rewarding for Chai who highlighted the learning opportunities they gained throughout the process.
The team used tools like Canva and CapCut to make their report, presentation, and video visually appealing and informative. Chai encouraged other students to participate in similar competitions not just for the prize but to enhance their skills and knowledge. The Government Finance Case Challenge hosted by the National Association of Government Accountants (AGA) emphasized the importance of government accountability, transparency, data transformation, and showcased potential careers in government.
The team received guidance from UH Mānoa School of Accountancy Professor Jian Zhou and expressed gratitude to Pamela Young from the AGA—Hawaiʻi Chapter for her support. Final submissions were judged by a panel of government finance experts with finalists presenting their findings through a team-created video of a mock government meeting. This achievement marks the third UH Mānoa team in four years to excel at either the graduate or undergraduate level in such competitions, highlighting the university’s excellence in this area.
