UNA BUSINESS STUDENTS PLACE FIRST IN TVA INVESTMENT CHALLENGE

Feb. 18, 2009

FLORENCE, Ala. — Students of the University of North Alabama placed first out of 24 universities in the recent TVA Investment Challenge for 2008. UNA’s student-run stock portfolio beat the overall stock market by 12.89 percent, with a return of -24.11, versus the S&P 500 Index return of -37 percent.

“The students did an incredible job selecting stocks during a difficult investment climate,” said Dr. Kristy Van Rensselaer, UNA professor of finance and faculty advisor for the student investment team. “I am proud of how much effort they put into their stock research.”

Under Van Rensselaer’s guidance, the students managed a stock portfolio worth about $225,000. The investment team was responsible for stock analyses and investment decisions for the portfolio. Their winning performance in the TVA Investment Challenge entitles them to a $5,038 cash award.

“The College of Business is especially proud of the students who participated in the TVA Investment Challenge and of their advisor, Dr. Van Rensselaer,” said Dr. Kerry Gatlin, dean of the UNA College of Business. “This is just one of a number of opportunities we provide students to gain real-world experience.”

TVA created the Investment Challenge in 1998 to provide students real financial management experience. The student managers are given the same basic rules as TVA’s professional money managers.

UNA students participating in the Investment Challenge were Brittany Brady, Justin Carmack, Cheryl Fisher, Jonathon Hanson, Laura Jones, Ashley Lovett, Pasupat Srichumpoung, Mikiko Sugaya, Masahiro Sugita and Matthew Vandenheuvel.