First Citizens Bank gift supports 蘑菇短视频students through access to stock market data
Students in the College of Business at 蘑菇短视频 now have access to real-time stock market trading information through laboratory space made possible through a financial contribution from First Citizens Bank.
Taking part in a ceremony announcing the First Citizens Bank Trading Lab at Western Carolina University are (from left) A.J. Grube, dean of the College of Business; finance and finance major Brian Tello; First Citizens Bank executive Chuck Perry; Chancellor Kelli R. Brown; and Bob Roberts, First Citizens Bank executive vice president and former chair of WCU鈥檚 Board of Trustees.
The renovated lab is home to two Bloomberg Terminals, a subscription-based software platform that delivers live global market data, advanced analytics, news and secure communication tools to financial professionals, faculty members and students.
In recognition of gifts and pledges totaling $200,000 from the bank to the College of Business Dean鈥檚 Fund, the space located in Room 121 of WCU鈥檚 Forsyth Building is being named the First Citizens Bank Trading Lab after recent approval by the university鈥檚 Board of Trustees. An official naming ceremony was held Wednesday, Sept. 9.
A.J. Grube, dean of the College of Business, said the gift from First Citizens Bank will provide invaluable real-world learning opportunities to students preparing for careers in the financial industry and improved access to professional resources for faculty members.
鈥淭he trading and investment lab is a game-changer for College of Business students and faculty,鈥� Grube said. 鈥淏y providing real-time financial data, it strengthens projects and research, which positions our students for competitive careers in the financial sector. The College of Business is truly grateful for its partnership with First Citizens.鈥�
Grube described the Bloomberg Terminals as integrated market-data, analytics, messaging, execution, compliance-capture and teaching ecosystems. The gift will help the College of Business cover the annual subscription cost for utilizing the terminals.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the industry standard for financial trading firms and banks 鈥� a tool that our students are expected to know how to use upon entry to the workforce,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n the lab, students in finance classes will be able to see and use real-time stock trading data, which is important as they learn about investments and the stock market.鈥�
For example, members of the 蘑菇短视频Tennessee Valley Authority Investment Challenge Team will make heavy use of the Bloomberg terminals in the lab because the information is real-time as opposed to having to input old data into spreadsheets, Grube said. The TVA Investment Challenge provides students with real-world experience managing a stock portfolio, choosing stocks for the portfolio and placing trades themselves while being advised by a faculty member.
A 蘑菇短视频 College of Business student (seated) demonstrates terminals in the new First Citizens Bank Trading Lab to (from left) Frank Brown, who recently served on the 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� Steering Committee, and Bob Roberts, First Citizens Bank executive vice president and former chair of the 蘑菇短视频Board of Trustees.
鈥淚n short, the terminals in the lab let students replicate multi-asset trading strategies without hopping platforms, demonstrate real-world dealer workflow, provide a one-click link from a headline to pricing impact 鈥� which is critical for event-study teaching 鈥� and support publication-grade research and econometrics assignments,鈥� Grube said.
Having access to the college鈥檚 Bloomberg Terminals enhances students鈥� educational experience by helping bridge the gap between classroom concepts and real-world financial markets, said Brian Tello, a senior finance and accounting major from Winston-Salem.
鈥淭hroughout my coursework and my involvement in the TVA Investment Challenge as the lead portfolio manager, I鈥檝e analyzed market data, evaluated companies, monitored economic indicators and better understood how current events influence investment decisions,鈥� said Tello, who is among the 蘑菇短视频students to receive Bloomberg certification, a designation that makes them more appealing to prospective employers.
鈥淭he lab has strengthened both my technical and analytical skills while giving me experience with the same tools used by investment professionals,鈥� said Tello, who plans to become a financial adviser after graduation, work toward obtaining certified financial planner credentials and build his own practice focused on helping families achieve their financial goals.
鈥淭he experience I鈥檝e gained using the lab has improved my ability to analyze investments, interpret market trends and communicate financial information effectively. Combined with my internships and leadership experiences at Western, working in the lab has prepared me to make more informed decisions and provide greater value to future clients,鈥� he said.
Chuck Perry, First Citizens Bank area executive for Western North Carolina and parts of South Carolina, called the contribution to 蘑菇短视频a prime example of the financial institution鈥檚 tradition of supporting the region in which it is located.
鈥淔irst Citizens is deeply involved with all areas of our communities that we serve. This is a natural step for us to be a catalyst for community growth and education of their workforces. It is an honor to be able to partner with 蘑菇短视频 in this endeavor,鈥� said Perry.
鈥淎s a bank that is extremely invested in the communities we serve, we see firsthand how critical it is for graduates to have real-world experience. We see workforce development as core to our mission, not separate,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ecause of our relationship with WCU, we wanted to help accelerate the education of the business school鈥檚 students through hands-on exposure to live markets, trading terminals and real portfolio management.鈥�
Perry said he and other First Citizens executives hope that the lab will be a space where students can apply concepts they have learned in the classroom 鈥� such as portfolio theory, risk management and valuation 鈥� to live decisions, equipping them with a strong skillset to put to use after they graduate and go into the business world.
鈥淔irst, it will give students a familiarity with tools and concepts that they may encounter in a job with a bank or trading desk,鈥� he said. 鈥淪econd, it credentials a student with prospective employers to be able to display those skills when they interview with them, potentially giving them a leg up over other students. Lastly, it will give the students confidence having made real analytical conditions, not just theoretical ones.鈥�
While the bank鈥檚 partnership with the university is well worth noting, it is 蘑菇短视频students like Brian Tello who deserve the applause, said Bob Roberts, regional executive vice president at First Citizens Bank in Asheville and former chair of the 蘑菇短视频Board of Trustees.
鈥淭he real celebration is about the students, because they鈥檙e the ones who are remarkable,鈥� said Roberts, who has helped foster WCU鈥檚 relationship with First Citizens Bank and has hosted new student send-off events in the Asheville area with his wife, Carol.
鈥淐arol and I have been blessed to be part of the 蘑菇短视频community for many years, and it has been a privilege to support this institution, which means so much to Western North Carolina, our home,鈥� he said.
The latest First Citizens contribution is part of WCU鈥檚 recently concluded 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $100 million in philanthropic support for enhancements to the overall student experience 鈥� including academics, community and global engagement, and athletics.