CALVERTON, MD (April 7, 2022) – A three-member undergraduate team from the University of North Texas won the 2022 Intermodal Association of North America’s Academic Challenge hosted by the University of North Florida. The annual competition was held Friday, April 1, in Jacksonville, Florida. Judges for the competition were Rob Cannizzaro, Virginia International Terminals; Rob Giradot, CSX Transportation; Ryan Houfek, DCLI; and Tim Humbert, C.H. Robinson.

Participants on the University of North Texas team were Yoseph Almetnawy, Jairus Cherry and Jorden Herrington. This year’s case study focused on a fictitious medium-size, intermodal motor carrier’s decision to acquire chassis through purchase or lease given the current freight market conditions.

IANA scholarship schools represented in the Challenge were California State University Maritime Academy, Georgia Southern University, SUNY Maritime and the Universities of Maryland, North Florida, North Texas and Wisconsin at Superior. Auburn University and the University of Arkansas also participated.

Suman Niranjan, Ph.D., assistant professor for Logistics at UNT and the winning team’s advisor shared, “I believe it’s a tremendous opportunity for all the students that participate in the IANA case competition. Being in person at the IANA competition helps the students and mentors to network with champions in the intermodal industry, thus giving them a new sense of respect for the industry along with motivating students to pursue a career in intermodal."

“The student teams demonstrated a great level of preparation and professionalism in their presentations” said Joni Casey, president and CEO of IANA. “We congratulate them all and look forward to their contributions as future leaders in the intermodal industry.”

Since the Scholarship Program's inception in 2007, IANA has awarded close to $4 million to support students in university programs focused on freight and intermodal transportation. These funds support tuition, student research projects on intermodal issues, and curriculum development.

About IANA:
IANA’s roster of corporate members includes railroads, ocean carriers, ports, intermodal truckers and over-the-road highway carriers, intermodal marketing and logistic companies, and suppliers to the industry. This roster gives IANA a unique position within the intermodal community, one which is authoritative, holistic and able to affect change that benefits everyone. IANA consistently supports the shared needs, interests, and goals of its diverse members – regardless of mode or function – with business solutions, education, and networking opportunities.