2018-2019
News Release
REF NO.: 3
SUBJECT: Alumni donations enable Memorial students to invest real money in capital markets
DATE: September 11, 2018
Memorial University students now have the opportunity to use real money to gain investment experience in financial markets, thanks to generous alumni donations amounting to $150,000.
Brad White (B. Comm. ’91), co-founder, partner and chair of EdgeHill Partners in Toronto, Ont., has donated $100,000 to the Faculty of Business Administration to create a student-managed investment fund that will be known as The Fund.
Luke O’Brien (B. Comm. (Co-op.) ’97), vice-president, portfolio manager and wealth advisor at RBC Dominion Securities Inc. in St. John’s, has also donated $50,000.
“To me this is another very necessary leg of the stool for securities analysis and asset management at Memorial’s business faculty,” said Mr. White. “We have the body of talent, both student and faculty. We have the trading lab. And The Fund is a necessity to stay ahead in this competitive field, providing students with real experience and practical skills.”
Mr. White previously made a significant donation that enabled the business faculty to create the White Trading Lab, a state-of-the-art facility that features Bloomberg terminals and technology and enables users to interact with the global financial community in real time.
Mr. O’Brien says his donation is a way of giving back to and investing in Memorial students.
“I gained knowledge from a stock market simulation exercise that I completed as part of an investments course at Memorial that I still benefit from today,” said Mr. O’Brien. “By managing an actual portfolio, a select number of current students will be able to take that experience to a higher level, and hopefully generate a positive return on the fund that will benefit future students.”
The Fund will allow students to invest real money in equity and bond markets using the Bloomberg technologies available in the White Trading Lab, thereby providing active and experiential learning opportunities. By filling such roles as portfolio manager, sector manager and analyst, students also will gain experience related to researching investment opportunities, producing security research reports and evaluating portfolio performance.
Faculty advisors and team of industry professionals will guide students in their investment activities and provide further learning opportunities through workshops and mentorship.
The Fund is now recruiting its first cohort of students from all faculties and schools at Memorial.
Dr. Isabelle Dostaler, dean of Memorial’s business faculty, says The Fund will help Memorial students to become marketable job candidates and build careers in the finance industry.
“We’re grateful for these important donations of seed funding from Mr. White and Mr. O’Brien, and we appreciate their important investment in our students,” said Dr. Dostaler. “It’s our hope these initial donations will attract other donors, which will provide our students with further opportunities to develop their investment skills. Together, we can support the next generation of financial leaders.”
For more information about The Fund, please visit online.
REF NO.: 3
SUBJECT: Alumni donations enable Memorial students to invest real money in capital markets
DATE: September 11, 2018
Memorial University students now have the opportunity to use real money to gain investment experience in financial markets, thanks to generous alumni donations amounting to $150,000.
Brad White (B. Comm. ’91), co-founder, partner and chair of EdgeHill Partners in Toronto, Ont., has donated $100,000 to the Faculty of Business Administration to create a student-managed investment fund that will be known as The Fund.
Luke O’Brien (B. Comm. (Co-op.) ’97), vice-president, portfolio manager and wealth advisor at RBC Dominion Securities Inc. in St. John’s, has also donated $50,000.
“To me this is another very necessary leg of the stool for securities analysis and asset management at Memorial’s business faculty,” said Mr. White. “We have the body of talent, both student and faculty. We have the trading lab. And The Fund is a necessity to stay ahead in this competitive field, providing students with real experience and practical skills.”
Mr. White previously made a significant donation that enabled the business faculty to create the White Trading Lab, a state-of-the-art facility that features Bloomberg terminals and technology and enables users to interact with the global financial community in real time.
Mr. O’Brien says his donation is a way of giving back to and investing in Memorial students.
“I gained knowledge from a stock market simulation exercise that I completed as part of an investments course at Memorial that I still benefit from today,” said Mr. O’Brien. “By managing an actual portfolio, a select number of current students will be able to take that experience to a higher level, and hopefully generate a positive return on the fund that will benefit future students.”
The Fund will allow students to invest real money in equity and bond markets using the Bloomberg technologies available in the White Trading Lab, thereby providing active and experiential learning opportunities. By filling such roles as portfolio manager, sector manager and analyst, students also will gain experience related to researching investment opportunities, producing security research reports and evaluating portfolio performance.
Faculty advisors and team of industry professionals will guide students in their investment activities and provide further learning opportunities through workshops and mentorship.
The Fund is now recruiting its first cohort of students from all faculties and schools at Memorial.
Dr. Isabelle Dostaler, dean of Memorial’s business faculty, says The Fund will help Memorial students to become marketable job candidates and build careers in the finance industry.
“We’re grateful for these important donations of seed funding from Mr. White and Mr. O’Brien, and we appreciate their important investment in our students,” said Dr. Dostaler. “It’s our hope these initial donations will attract other donors, which will provide our students with further opportunities to develop their investment skills. Together, we can support the next generation of financial leaders.”
For more information about The Fund, please visit online.
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