GIRC team heads to national competition

Northwest Nazarene University business and finance students were named the champions of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Society of Idaho’s Investment Research Challenge earlier this month. NNU competed against teams from Boise State University, George Fox University, and University of Phoenix. NNU’s team was unique in that it combined traditional and non-traditional undergraduate students with graduate students.
The teams of three-to-five students worked directly with US Ecology to research and prepare a company analysis. Each team worked with an investment professional who mentored them through the research process and reviewed and critiqued its report.
Upon completion, the report was reviewed and scored by a high-profile panel of active Idaho Society CFAs and highly experienced money managers. Teams also presented their research to these judges. The team with the highest combined report and presentation score was the winner. The local champions advance to regional competitions in the Americas, Asia, and Europe and then to the global finale.
The CFA Institute Global Investment Research Challenge (GIRC) brings together local, regional and global students, investment industry professionals, publicly traded companies and corporate sponsors for a real-world competition. Students research, analyze and report on a company as if they are practicing analysts. Furthermore, all participants are introduced to and held to the standard of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
Photo caption: The NNU team consists of MBA, STEP and traditional undergraduates. Team members include (left to right, bottom to top) Sam Rawlins, Justin Reynolds, Craig Christensen and Jack Craven. Not pictured: Justin Archuleta.