Hands-On Experience Makes A Difference For Student Investment Club Members
Shenandoah’s Student Investment Club (SUSIC) teaches its members to expand their wealth through stock market investing.
Members learn about stock basics, investment strategies, angel investing and the concept of “wealth,” which means that a person has an abundance of what they need, financial freedom, and no debt. Angel investors can help younger individuals on their path to wealth, by helping those with less capital to become successful entrepreneurs. An angel investor is an affluent individual who provides capital to a startup company, in exchange for convertible debt or owner’s equity. Another way to become successful is by teaming up with classmates or friends, and then pooling investments. Both of these strategies require less capital with possibly great results.
Investment club members also participate in two competitions, where their knowledge is put to the test. The first competitive event is within the club, through a platform known as Otis, sponsored by the Wharton School of Business. In this competition, the club separates into six groups, with each group given one million virtual dollars to invest in a real-time investing simulation. At the end of the semester, whichever group has profited the most from its investments, wins! The second competitive event is versus Miles Davis, Ph.D., dean of the Byrd Business School. In this “Beat the Dean” competition, the club as a whole and Dr. Davis are given the same amount of money to virtually invest. Whoever has the most amount of money at the end of the semester wins!
The club’s activities aren’t limited to campus, either. On Nov. 17, the club traveled to New York City to get a firsthand look at the financial sector. The group’s main New York adventure was a tour of the Museum of American Finance. Some exhibits viewed included the Alexander Hamilton room, Out of the Vaults, The Financial Markets, Banking in America, and Entrepreneurs.
Two particularly engaging exhibits were America in Circulation: A History of U.S. Currency and For the Love of Money: Blacks on U.S. Currency. The History of U.S. Currency exhibit includes around 250 notes, extending from the colonial era to present day. The For the Love of Money: Blacks on U.S. Currency exhibit commemorates the achievements African Americans have made throughout U.S. history. This exhibit features anti-slavery tokens, commemorative coins, concept coins, bronze medals, and Presidential bronze medals and gold medallions.
Students of all majors are encouraged to learn more about investing by joining the group from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays in Halpin-Harrison Hall, Room 226.
