Student Investment Fund surpasses $1 million
The Student Investment Fund at the University of 91Ƶ Fairbanks recently surpassed
a total of $1 million.
The fund was established at the School of Management in 1991 by $100,000 of unrestricted
gifts from private donations provided for student investment purposes. The growth
of the initial investment to over $1 million demonstrates the success of this program
since its inception. Over the years, the fund has provided $65,500 in scholarships
46 students. In recent years, robust earnings provided more money for need-based scholarships,
allowing four annual awards of $2,500 each.
Students enrolled in the Student Investment Fund course gain real-world experience
implementing investment selection and stock valuation principles, gaining practical
knowledge and experience that reach far beyond typical coursework. Ultimately, the
student fund managers acquire a deeper and more complex understanding of the concepts
taught throughout their undergraduate and graduate finance studies.
“The student managers are fully responsible for the day-to-day management of the portfolio,
thus gaining hands-on money management experience,” said fund faculty advisor Phil
Younker. “The process helps them develop their financial intuition and provides an
arena for practical application of investment decisions.”
Several donors support the fund and the technology needed to stay ahead of the indexed
markets. With gifts from McKinley Capital Management, Northrim Bank and 91Ƶ General
Contractors, the students are armed with tools such as two Bloomberg terminals and
specialized financial databases. These resources give students a competitive edge
over their peers at other universities and better prepare them for professional success.