$100‚000 Student Managed Investment Fund Launched at KSU’s Coles College of Business
Kennesaw‚ GA – Beginning in August of 2007‚ undergraduate and graduate students at the Coles…
Georgia (Jan 2, 2006) — $100‚000 Student Managed Investment Fund Launched at KSU’s Coles College of Business
Terri Thornton
Abstract
Media contact: Terri Thornton‚ 404−932−4347 or territhornton@mindspring.com
KENNESAW‚ Ga. – Beginning in August of 2007‚ undergraduate and graduate students at
the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University will have the opportunity
to practice what they have been preached.
The Henssler Financial Group has donated $100‚000 to establish a Student Managed Investment
Fund‚ or “SMIF.” It will operate just like any other investment fund; students will
research companies and industries‚ write research reports‚ then manage and invest
the money. The fund management approach is strategic asset allocation with long−term
capital appreciation as the paramount goal. The S&P 500 will be the benchmark for
measuring performance.
“We are delighted that Dr. Gene Henssler and the Henssler Financial Group have made
this significant investment in Coles College students and our ongoing quest for real−life
business applications‚” said Coles College Dean Tim Mescon. “This unique student investment
fund allows our students to connect theory with practice‚” he added. “This is what
leading edge business education should be about.”
The fund‚ which students set up under the guidance of Professor Stefano Mazzotta‚
Ph.D.‚ will give students the opportunity to apply what they've learned in finance
and economics classes to real investment management.
“Students will have the opportunity to apply the theoretical paradigms acquired through
their business curricula to the merciless reality of financial markets‚” said Professor
Mazzotta‚ who is the faculty mentor for the SMIF. “It will be a life−changing experience
for the students who stay in the program for all four semesters‚” he added. “They
will develop discipline‚ integrity and character as well as analytic‚ communication
and leadership skills. These skills contribute to defining the future leaders of society‚
and are particularly attractive to potential employers.”
Participating students will join the fund as junior analysts specializing in industries
such as health care‚ aviation or telecommunications. With their experience in the
funds and the mentoring by more senior SMIF members‚ they will take managerial roles
with the power to directly affect the composition of the portfolio. Profits will be
reinvested in the fund.
“This fund will give Coles College students a significant edge in the job market and
allow them to step into their careers with strong practical skills to complement the
knowledge they gained in the classroom‚” said Govind Hariharan‚ Ph.D.‚ Chair of the
Department of Economics‚ Finance and Quantitative Analysis. “The Henssler Financial
Group has been a long−time supporter of the activities of the department and we appreciate
its contributions to this endeavor.”
For more information about The Henssler Financial Group‚ visit www.henssler.com. For information about the Coles College of Business at KSU‚ visit http://coles.kennesaw.edu.
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Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive‚ residential institution with a growing
student population approaching 20‚000 from 132 countries. The third−largest university
in Georgia‚ Kennesaw State offers more than 60 graduate and undergraduate degrees‚
including a new doctorate in education.
MORE NEWS…
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.