Picture: UConn Stamford Fed Challenge Team outside of the New York Fed after the Orientation, September 2024.
The UConn Stamford team participated again in the College Fed Challenge national competition, which is a team competition for undergraduate students. Teams analyze economic and financial conditions and formulate a monetary policy recommendation, modeling the Federal Open Market Committee.
To prepare for the competition, students take ECON 3492 – Practicum course with Dr. Smirnova, who is the faculty adviser for the team. In the Spring semester, students research economic literature, gather data, and work on the structure of presentation and forming the team. In the Fall, the data and presentation are updated, the team is solidified, and presentation video is created and submitted.
In the Fall 2024, the Stamford team consisted of 11 dedicated students, who collected data and engaged in research on economic indicators that help FOMC develop monetary policy recommendations. The final video presentation can be accessed here.
Mitchell Velasco
the team leader, is a senior majoring in Financial Management. His journey with the Fed Challenge started in Dr. Smirnova’s Money and Banking class, where he was first exposed to the Federal Reserve and monetary policy. Since then, Mitchell had become fascinated with the relationship between business, economics, and society and the way all are underpinned by the institution we know as the Fed. Finance and economics are intrinsically connected and Micthell’s economic journey has only worked to strengthen his broader understanding of the business world. Here is Mitchell’s reflection.
Mallory Albrecht
is a senior at UConn majoring in Economics. She is passionate about understanding how economic concepts apply to different fields and industries. Mallory is curious about financial markets and economic policies. She has experience working as a financial advisor for Northwestern Mutual and hopes to take her financial and economic knowledge with her to many different areas, for example, commercial real estate and development. Mallory enjoys constantly learning, seizing new opportunities, and engaging in academic discussions with peers. She had the privilege of contributing to the founding of the Economic Research and Policy Counsel where she serves as Secretary. This is a club that she is very proud to be a part of and she thinks that it will leave a positive mark on the UConn community by working to increase the economic literacy of the student body. Outside of school and work, Mallory enjoys spending time in nature, going on walks with my friends, and trying new recipes that inspire my creativity through cooking. She is also an avid reader and enjoys writing book reviews on Goodreads. She makes it a goal to learn something new every day and to leave a positive mark on the people she spends time with. Mallory’s reflection is here.
Matthew Dalzell
is a senior in Business Data Analytics. He is passionate about analyzing business financial issues and researching economic processes. In the past, Matthew has presented recommendations for policy change and held many supporting roles for corporations in services and reporting. He strives for a strong attention to detail and is motivated by the desire to understand what drives business.
In the future, Matthew hopes to make better use of his entrepreneurial spirit and grow his own company to solve modern-day issues. As a lifelong learner, he is excited to continue to pursue new opportunities to grow his skills, enhance his perspective, and contribute to positive change in his community. While Matthew enjoys thoroughly analyzing an idea, articulating the point, and defending the main argument, academically, in his personal time, he can be found outdoors hiking through the woods or relaxing in the sun. Matthew’s reflection is here.
Paul Juszczyk
is a senior at UConn studying Economics. He is super passionate about finance, investing, and trying to understand some of the complexity within this country's economy. Beyond academics, Paul has been able to be entrepreneurial through reselling sneakers and streetwear effectively. It has taught him a lot about the trends in the market, the customers, and about moving in such a fast-paced industry. He continuously seeks out all opportunities for growth and expansion, whether examined through financial analysis, economic policy studies, or finding creative ways to merge his passion for business with the world of investing. Outside of professional and academic interests, Paul is one of those people that needs to keep busy and productive. He enjoys creative outlets, such as trying new hobbies, reading world financial news, or having discussions about economics. In his case, each day allows him to learn, grow, and explore something new! Paul’s reflection is here.
Brenda Leon Zerillo
is a senior at UConn Stamford majoring in economics. She is super interested in learning and informing herself about global issues and how economics shapes and responds to these issues. Important issues like poverty, climate change, and inequality all can be connected to economics, and Brenda believes that economics can be used to find effective solutions to these global issues.
Outside of academic activities, Brenda loves reading and drawing and also participating in sport activities. She also works in a restaurant part time while in school. She thrives in being in fast paced environments and works very well under pressure. Brenda continuously looks for opportunities to learn new information and also to gain new experiences. Her reflection is here.
Liz Maia
is a third-year student at the University of Connecticut – Stamford, majoring in Economics. For her, economics is more than just numbers and charts; it is a way to understand what shapes societies and influences the everyday life of an average person. Growing up in a country with an unbalanced economy initially sparked her curiosity about the subject, inspiring her to seek answers to the "why" behind economic trends and decisions.
Over the past two semesters, Liz had the opportunity to participate in the College Fed Challenge. This experience has been an amazing journey. The College Fed Challenge taught her how to analyze data and interpret it to connect to the real-life impacts on individuals and communities. She has applied her skills from the Fed Challenge in the internship in private wealth management and plans to carry forward this learning experience into her studies and professional career. Liz was covering the GDP for the team. Liz’s reflection is here.
Madina Mamedli
is a senior in UConn Stamford studying economics and marketing management. She is super passionate about entrepreneurship strategies. Madina received her Key4Women Certified Advisor Badge. Key4Women is an organization within KeyBank, focused on guiding upcoming and existing women business owners to learn, network and reach their goals. Madina has worked with the Bank for some time, and always tries to find ways to improve and gain knowledge through the different classes they offer. She is currently working with a team to create learning guides for budgeting, banking and lending in order to educate more people about personal finance and encourage them to take an active part in how they handle their assets. Aside from her professional life, Madina loves trying new hobbies and getting involved with different types of art. She writes poetry, enjoys museums and recently she started to learn how to crochet.
Something that would make Madina stand out is that she is always on the go. She always finds a way to keep herself busy- be it in a creative or educational way. To some people it might come off overwhelming but with adequate breaks, Madina thinks it's a really good way to make sure you're always growing and finding interesting activities to relax and challenge your artistry. Madina’s reflection is here.
Cole Sembrot
has been in the FED challenge for both the Spring ‘24 and Fall ‘24 semesters. He is a senior Economics Undergrad, taking MSQE courses, putting himself on track for the program after graduation. He is an avid skier and mountain biker when he has free time. Cole works part-time within an electrical wholesale while in school. During his summers he owns and operates a handyman business, where he helps clients with a variety of tasks from the simple assembly of furniture to outdoor pavilions and interior technology set up, such as TVs and Office spaces. On campus, Cole is the President of the Economic Research and Policy Council. After being introduced to the Practicum course in the Money and Banking class, he fell in love with understanding the Fed and central bank monetary policy tools, especially over the past two decades, specifically examining the large increases of the balance sheet as a result of Quantitative Easing. He has had a passion for economics since his AP classes in high school. He has found that economic theory and its quantitative implications have such a broad, yet tangible application throughout the world and within many industries. The multi-disciplinary aspect of the field intrigues him the most. Whether it is in law and public policy or on the quantitative side developing models using an understanding of math and computer science. Where one can work in fields regarding data analysis, machine learning/ AI, and finance. Cole is more interested in the intersection of economics with the ladder, data science field. As for Cole on a personal level, he thoroughly enjoys being a member of the Fed Challenge, orchestrated by Professor Smirnova. He recommends and has recommended the Practicum for many students as an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of different macro-economic factors/ indicators. Additionally, the Fed challenge was an opportunity for Cole to meet a variety of amazing students on campus. Cole’s reflection is here.
Angelina Solodka
is a Bachelor of Science student in Financial Management, planning to graduate in May 2026. One of the highlights of her academic experience has been participating in the Fed Challenge, a national economics competition. This experience has deepened her understanding of monetary policy and economic analysis while giving her the chance to work closely with a team to solve complex problems and present our findings. It’s been both challenging and rewarding, and it has shaped the way she approaches analytical and collaborative work.
Outside of academics, Angelina worked in retail management roles at Men’s Wearhouse and Vince. These experiences taught her how to lead teams, meet sales goals, and deliver excellent customer service. While different from the Fed Challenge, these roles helped her develop practical problem-solving and interpersonal skills that she values just as much. Angelina’s reflection is here.
Thomas Surette
is an Economics student at the University of Connecticut with a strong passion for economic theory and policy analysis. He is an active member of the UCONN Economics Council and had the opportunity to participate in the 2024 Federal Reserve Challenge, where he applied his knowledge of economics in a real-world setting and further developed his analytical and critical thinking skills.
Beyond Thomas’s academic work, he has solid experience in communication, public speaking, and customer service. Starting at the age of 13, he’s been volunteering at the Avon Theater as an event coordinator, which has sharpened his organizational and people skills and deepened his commitment to community involvement.
While Thomas has also built a background in leadership and event management through various roles, including collaborating with community organizations, his core focus remains on developing expertise in economics that he can carry forward into a professional setting. His reflection is here.
Chunfai Wong
is a sophomore at UConn majoring in Economics. He is passionate about understanding how technological innovation, particularly artificial intelligence, can transform economic systems and solve real-world problems. To deepen his expertise, Chunfai plans to double major in Economics and Computer Science, focusing on the intersection of data-driven analysis and technology.
Chunfai founded AIU, a campus club dedicated to exploring how AI can enhance economic decision-making and improve efficiency in industries. As president, he leads discussions on topics such as using AI to optimize resource allocation or predict market trends, fostering collaboration among members to generate innovative ideas. This experience has honed his ability to connect theoretical knowledge with practical applications.
Chunfai’s goal is to establish an AI company that addresses economic challenges, like market inefficiencies or inequality, creating sustainable solutions for future generations. Outside of academics, he enjoys exploring global economic trends, playing piano, and staying active through basketball and golf. His reflection is here.