Learning
Muskingum Students Place Second Runner-Up in The Fiscal Challenge in D.C.
On April 11, Muskingum University was honored as Second Runner-Up at the Fiscal Challenge. Students joined five other undergraduate teams from across the country in the nation’s capital to compete in the 2025 Fiscal Challenge Finals, a national economics competition that tasks students with developing comprehensive, data-driven policy proposals to stabilize the U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio over the long term.
This is the second time Assistant Professor of Economics Dr. Arjun Sondhi’s Economics seminar students have been selected as finalists for the competition. Muskingum’s team included:
- Jillian Laposky, public accounting, economics and business management major from Wellington, OH
- Zachary Martin, economics, marketing, and business management major from Newport, NC
- Brock Pfister, accounting, economics, and business management major from Utica, OH
- Asa Saxton, accounting, economics, and business management major from Roseville, OH
- James Salchli, economics and business management major from Bowling Green, KY
- Riley Tuel, marketing and economics major from Salem, OH
ECON 450 offers an in-depth look at economic principles, focusing on fiscal policy and public finance while enhancing analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. As part of their coursework, students were able to participate in the Fiscal Challenge, where they submitted a proposal addressing current issues.
Muskingum students competed against students from Pace University, the University of Notre Dame, Minerva University, the University of Austin, and UCLA. Over 100 students participated in the preliminary round, with 18 teams submitting written proposals. The top six were invited to Washington, D.C. to present their ideas to a distinguished panel of judges and take part in a half-day of professional networking.
This remarkable achievement not only highlights the dedication and talent of Muskingum's students but also underscores the university's commitment to academic excellence and real-world application of economic principles.
