The University of Arkansas at Monticello Homepage

From October 17-18, five officers of the University of Arkansas at Monticello Investment Club traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with a locally-based investment team. The officers in attendance were Emma Green of Rison, Arkansas; Jaquenton Harris of Winchester, Arkansas; Jade Keaton of Rison, Arkansas; Alfredo Medina of Dumas, Arkansas; and Julie Roberts of Rison, Arkansas. The officers were accompanied by UAM Investment Club faculty co-advisors Dr. Shanna Knowles, assistant professor of management at UAM, and Becky Phillips, associate professor of accounting at UAM, along with officers and a faculty advisor of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Investment Club.

During the two-day summit, the UAM Investment Club officers explored a range of advanced investment topics, including equity investing, private investments, international markets, asset allocation and risk management and tolerance. A highlight of the summit was the opportunity for students to present their insights on asset allocation and risk tolerance in an interactive session with the investment team and receive personalized coaching and feedback.

The purpose of the summit was to equip the officers with investment knowledge for future careers or personal use, as well as to promote financial sustainability practices.

“Meeting with the investment team in Washington, D.C., was an educational experience of a lifetime,” Roberts, a senior accounting and business administration double major and president of the UAM Investment Club, said. “I, along with the other officers, was pushed to expand my social and academic norms in such a rewarding way. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for our sponsors’ support.”

An associate from the investment team stated, “My colleagues and I were quite impressed by the UAM students’ enthusiasm for learning, their professionalism, their inquisitive nature and their willingness to push themselves beyond their comfort zone with their investment presentations.”

While in Washington, D.C., the officers toured national monuments and the United States Capitol, where they visited the office of Congressman Bruce Westerman, the representative from Arkansas’ Fourth Congressional District, reinforcing the connection between leadership and service. They also visited three Smithsonian museums, the Pentagon Memorial and the White House and witnessed the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Dr. Knowles stated, “We extend our sincere gratitude to the Washington, D.C., offices who hosted our club officers. Our students were astounded by the amount of time and resources the investment team dedicated to their learning. The team’s commitment to fostering financial literacy and sustainability among our students is truly commendable. We are especially thankful for the generous grant funds that made this trip possible. For each officer in attendance, it was their first trip to Washington, D.C. Not only were the students exposed to high-caliber business executives but they also took pride in touring our nation’s capital. Each student returned from the trip with a feeling of empowerment and excitement. They are well on their way to becoming the next generation of financial leaders.”

“The UAM Investment Club is open to all UAM students,” Phillips said. “We aim to reach and engage students from every major on campus because investing is such an important life skill. Our goal is to provide a sustainable financial education with our resources that will benefit students throughout their lives.”

The trip inspired the club’s officers to launch new initiatives, including purchasing a subscription to The Wall Street Journal, which the investment team recommended the students read every day to follow markets and finance news. Additionally, plans are underway for a spring semester symposium on UAM’s Monticello campus featuring national speakers, a trip to Bentonville, Arkansas, to engage with industry experts and The Stock Market Game, a national investment simulation competition where student teams invest $100,000 of artificial money with the objective of earning the highest growth. These initiatives exemplify the club’s mission to equip students with practical skills for a lifetime of financial stewardship.

For more information about the UAM Investment Club or the UAM School of Business, contact Dr. Knowles at knowless@uamont.edu or 870-460-1311.