By Nicarlyle Hanchard / The Jambar
Earlier this year, the Youngstown State University Foundation donated $1.5 million to the Student Investment Fund’s managed portfolio.
This commitment has provided the SIF with more opportunities to participate in competitions in New York and Chicago, and engage in real-world investments.
In a statement, Peter Chen, SIF faculty advisor and associate finance professor at the Williamson College of Business Administration, stated the donation will help expand opportunities available to the SIF.
“A generous donation from YSU Foundation has provided the student investment fund with the opportunity to engage in real-world, experiential learning by actively managing a pool of financial assets,” Chen stated. “This gift moves the fund beyond theoretical exercises and allows students to conduct securities analysis, implement financial strategies and manage a $3.8 million portfolio under the guidance of faculty and industry professionals.”
In addition to practical experiences, Chen stated that the donation will afford networking, mentorship and professional development opportunities to members of the SIF.
“These funds often provide access to mentorship from industry experts and connect students with valuable professional networks,” Chen stated. “The capital provided allows students to invest in real assets that might otherwise be out of reach, potentially even taking on higher-risk, high-reward strategies that provide unique learning outcomes.”
Scott Schulick, chair of the YSU Foundation Board of Trustees Investment Committee, stated that the donation came as a result of the SIF’s continued growth and improvement over the years.
“The committee wants to reward the [SIF] for its extremely good work managing a portion of the Foundation’s investments which have now grown to $3.5 million from an original investment of $250,000 in 2007, with some additional investments along the way,” Schulick stated. “The students have been good stewards of the Foundation’s investments in their role as one of the Foundation’s portfolio managers, and we wanted to reward that effort with an additional $1.5 million so the Student Investment Fund would reach $5 million.”
The donation will be paid in three increments of $500,000 for the academic years 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28. Schulick echoed Chen’s sentiments and stated the funds will go toward establishing a fixed income portfolio.
“The SIF is interested in adding a fixed income portfolio to the existing portfolio, and this will be an opportunity to build that portion of the portfolio if they so choose,” Schulick stated.
Schulick also stated that the YSU Foundation’s continued collaboration with the SIF has been a benefit to both the students and the university.
“The collaboration with the [SIF] which the [YSU Foundation] helped to establish in 2007 has proved to be mutually beneficial, providing students with a real-world, hands-on experience managing real money,” Schulick stated. “This is a unique opportunity for the students involved, and they have done an excellent job as one of the Foundation’s portfolio managers.”