MTSU business clubs award students for tackling real-world ‘investment challenge’

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s Investment Club and Economics Club concluded their first ‘investment challenge’ with an awards ceremony that included scholarship prizes to the top teams best showcasing their finance skills.

Dr. Stuart Fowler, Economics and Finance professor, interim chair — Dr. Stuart Fowler

Dr. Frank Michello, Department of Economics and Financea — Dr. Frank Michello

Held just off campus at the Boulevard Bar and Grill on Middle Tennessee Boulevard just before the spring semester concluded, the inaugural event featured a first and second place financial prize, with trophies to match, for winning teams in the “Traders of the Lost Ark” 2025 Investment Challenge.

Team “Bulls and Bears” won first place and a $1,000 scholarship award. The team consisted of Kexin Ma (team lead), Terrance Williamson, Darshan Patel and Mary Figuera with economics and finance professor Frank Michello serving as their faculty advisor.

Student team Bulls and Bears from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., show off their trophy and ceremonial $1,000 scholarship check for capturing top honoring at the inaugural Investment Challenge award ceremony co-hosted by the Economics and Investment clubs on April 21 at the Boulevard Bar and Grill on Middle Tennessee Boulevard in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Pictured, from left, are Kexin Ma, Mary Figuera, Darshan Patel, and Terrance Williamson. (Submitted photo)

Team “Diamond Hand Raiders” received second place and a $500 scholarship award. The team consisted of Kris Patel (team lead), Chris Gibbons, Kye Allen and Jason Chen with economics and finance professor Keith Gamble serving as faculty advisor.

Student team Diamond Hand Raiders from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., show off their trophy and ceremonial $500 scholarship check for capturing top honoring at the inaugural Investment Challenge award ceremony co-hosted by the Economics and Investment clubs on April 21 at the Boulevard Bar and Grill on Middle Tennessee Boulevard in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Pictured, from left, are Jason Chen, Chris Gibbons, Kye Allen, and Kris Patel. (Submitted photo)

The challenge was a student-run, student-led competition that began as an idea over last spring and summer. Syd Panak, MTSU Investment Club president, and Sreehari Sreejith, Economics Club president and vice president of the Investment Club, developed the competition, with both clubs co-hosting the awards ceremony.

“We are proud to have brought the idea from vision to reality and thrilled with the student engagement it generated,” said Panak.

Two Middle Tennessee State University business clubs along with faculty advisors and partner sponsors held an awards ceremony April 21 at the Boulevard Bar and Grill on Middle Tennessee Boulevard in Murfreesboro, Tenn., to recognize top teams who competed in the 2025 Investment Challenge. Pictured, from left, are Tom Foreman, United Community Bank; Sydney Panak, MTSU Investment Club president; Sreehari Sreejith, MTSU Economics Club president and Investment Club vice president; and Stuart Fowler, Economics and Finance chair and faculty advisor. (Submitted photo)

Throughout the competition, teams met with each other and their faculty advisors consistently to discuss progress and new strategies, Panak added.

The Economics and Finance Department and Jones College of Business sponsored the team’s meetings and competition throughout its duration. The second-place award was provided through the university’s Weatherford Chair of Finance, with Gamble set to become the newest chairholder over the summer.

The semester-long competition began with an interest meeting in November, open to all MTSU majors. Five teams were created, with four to five students each.

The contest centered around “a real-time stock market simulation, managing virtual portfolios with the goal of maximizing returns while controlling risk,” said Panak.

“The competition not only gave students hands-on experience with investment decision-making, but also fostered collaboration across disciplines and highlighted the practical application of skills learned in class,” Panak continued.

“With the rising interest in finance and economics among students, the challenge served as an engaging way to apply classroom concepts to dynamic, real-world scenarios. We hope to continue this tradition and expand the challenge in future semesters.”

— Jordan Reining (Jordan.Reining@mtsu.edu)