Contact: Karie Patton
Ten Mississippi State University students are competing in a contest designed by the Tennessee Valley Authority to give business students real-world experience in financial investment management.
The TVA Investment Challenge lets the next generation of financial leaders manage a $100,000 portfolio within established guidelines. Funding comes from a portion of money set aside by the United States government utility to retire six of its nuclear power plants.
Mississippi State, which joined the challenge when it began in 1998, is among 19 participating schools. All 10 MSU students are members of the College of Business and Industry's Financial Management Association.
"Any student in the association can make a proposal to the panel, which then decides on the appropriate response, depending on whether the proposal fits the investment guidelines," said project adviser Wayne Kelly.
Kelly, an associate professor of finance, said TVA guidelines ensure that students follow sound investment practices, such as the diversification of investments. The three top performing university teams will receive cash awards.
Awards or not, Kelly said, "There's no substitute for this kind of hands-on learning."
Mississippi State team members include (by hometown):
BRANDON-Senior general business administration major Thomas V. Burch and junior banking and finance major Heather R. Pitts.
CHELSEA, Ala.-Senior business information systems major Phillip English.
COLUMBUS-Senior general business administration major Robert B. "Brad" Mauck.
GULFPORT(Senior accounting major Matthew M. "Matt" Walker.
HERNANDO-Junior banking and finance major John A. Ferguson.
ROLLING FORK-Senior banking and finance major Bradley M. Tilghman.
STARKVILLE-Accounting major Stephen C. Buehler and banking and finance major Sterling L. Karr. Both are seniors.
TERRYTOWN, La.-Senior banking and finance major David P. Louviere.