Shippensburg University’s Investment Management Program (IMP) won first place for its hybrid investing portfolio at the Quinnipiac University Global Asset Management Education Forum in New York City.
SU students presented a hybrid portfolio, which consists of bonds and primarily stocks. The portfolio “has driven a high return that allowed us to surpass all other schools at the competition,” Lisa Robbins, IMP’s president, said. SU’s IMP was able to surpass students from 140 colleges from 39 states across the country.
Robbins credits IMP’s first-place win to the high return its portfolio has received. IMP’s portfolio has reached the $100,000 mark, which funds scholarships for finance major students at SU.
Portfolio decisions are made by the IMP class, which consists of 11 senior students, under the advisory oversight of Hong Rim, a finance and supply chain management professor.
Unlike other universities, SU’s IMP is set up as a class, which allows students to pay closer attention to the portfolio.
“We have a lot of time to select the best investments for our portfolio, which is our advantage over some other schools that do not have programs,” Robbins said.
Senior finance students must complete an application form to be enrolled in the IMP class. Students are then selected for the class based on campus involvement, GPA and class requirements.
As IMP’s president, Robbins is in charge of organization and communication with the class, professors, SU’s finance department and the dean of the College of Business. Robbins is a senior accounting and finance major at SU.
Robbins’ role in IMP has enhanced her leadership and team orientation skills, which she believes will be beneficial to her career aspirations.
“We must all work together to form the best portfolio possible and to create the annual report and presentations for the annual dinner and competition in New York,” Robbins said.
While attending the Quinnipiac University Global Asset Management Education Forum, students attended sessions to enhance their skills and knowledge.
“We discussed topics such as asset management, investment strategies and the international and national economies, which plays a huge role in determining our investment allocations,” Robbins said.
The SU students will now use the knowledge gained to improve their portfolio management and continue its success.
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