Student Investment Group: From Classroom Concepts to Real-World Impact
Richard Branson, the successful owner of Virgin Group, Ltd., wrote, “The best way of learning about anything is by doing.” Students in LCU’s College of Business are discovering this fact through participation in the Student Investment Group. What began as a simple idea—providing students with hands-on investing experience—has quickly grown into one of the most dynamic student learning practices in Lubbock Christian University’s College of Business.
The Student Investment Group (SIG), established in 2022, was created to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world application. Early meetings looked very different than they do today. Students initially practiced with simulated funds, learning the basics of market behavior and portfolio strategy without financial risk. That changed when faculty advisor Dr. Haley Burton took a leap of faith, giving students access to her personal Robinhood account, allowing them to begin making real investment decisions. While the account held a modest balance of around $1,000, it gave students the opportunity to begin making real investment decisions with real stakes.
Soon after, a brokerage account was created specifically for the SIG. Through the generosity of alumni, friends, and advisory board members, approximately $250,000 was given to firmly establish a viable investment fund. The total portfolio value is now approximately $293,000. Continued efforts are underway to expand the fund through donor support and a broader capital campaign with a goal to raise $2 million. Learn more about donation opportunities and funding options, including naming rights, at SIG Fundraising Campaign
“The SIG is an important piece of the education puzzle for students considering careers in finance-related fields,” said Tracy Mack, Dean of the LCU College of Business. “This opportunity to manage money for the College of Business endowment adds a depth of understanding that classroom instruction alone cannot. Our goal is to raise an additional $2 million so that the funds invested are substantial and any returns can be used for student scholarships.”
Today, SIG operates with a clear purpose, to manage investments responsibly while developing students into thoughtful, skilled financial leaders. Members meet every other week throughout the semester to evaluate portfolio performance, analyze companies, and make strategic decisions grounded in long-term growth. Their approach reflects a disciplined investment philosophy, prioritizing diversification, careful risk management, and sustainable returns over speculation. With a long-term horizon of three to five years, students focus on preserving capital while targeting above-average returns.
For students, the experience is both challenging and transformative.
“I was excited for the chance to bring what I had learned in the classroom into the real world,” said Alfons Råwall, SIG President and junior economics major from Göteborg, Sweden. “Since attending my first meeting as a shaky freshman, I’ve been challenged to grow in financial knowledge, make hard decisions, and take responsibility.”
That sense of responsibility is central to the group’s mission. Students are not simply learning how to invest—they are learning how to steward resources entrusted to them for the benefit of others.
“We oversee a portfolio of actual money and what we do actually matters for the school,” Råwall said. “It feels great to give something back to LCU by helping to manage the fund responsibly.”
Unlike many universities, where investment groups are limited to finance majors or structured as required coursework, LCU’s SIG is open to students across all disciplines. This accessibility has contributed to both its growth and its unique culture of collaboration and peer learning.
Sophia Reyes, the Vice President of Operations for SIG and senior finance major from Vancouver, WA, shared that she joined SIG to increase her knowledge of investing. “I’m grateful that I decided to get involved despite having no prior experience.”
That openness creates an environment where students grow together, learning not only from faculty, but also from one another.
“SIG is a great opportunity to be around like-minded individuals interested in finance,” said Ryan Fullerton, SIG Senior Research Analyst and senior finance major from Lubbock. “The ability to also share what I’ve learned with those students coming behind me brings me joy and keeps me engaged within the organization.”
As the group has matured, so has its impact. Since beginning to actively manage the portfolio in 2024, the fund has achieved an overall return of 14 percent. Strategic investments in companies such as Alphabet, Apple, Coca-Cola, BorgWarner, and TotalEnergies have delivered particularly strong results, with individual stock gains of 77 percent, 37 percent, 24 percent, 61 percent, and 30 percent, respectively—demonstrating the group’s ability to apply disciplined analysis and long-term thinking in real market conditions.
Students are also gaining visibility with key university stakeholders. During the February Board of Trustees meeting, SIG leaders presented their portfolio strategy and performance, showcasing both their work and growth of the program.
“I joined the Student Investment Group to gain real, hands-on experience with investing and to grow my financial skills,” said Zach Reynolds, SIG Junior Research Analyst and senior finance major from Aledo, TX. “What has kept me engaged is watching the group grow and knowing I’ve had a role in building it into what it is today.”
That growth is not only financial, but also deeply personal.
“Getting hands-on experience managing our school’s portfolio has been one of the most impactful parts of my learning,” said Kat Ritchey, SIG Vice President of Marketing and senior finance major from Plainview, TX. “It’s pushed me to ask better questions, think through research and market decisions more intentionally, and grow alongside a group of students who are all serious about developing their financial skill sets.”
For Dr. Burton, the group’s impact is measured in more than numbers.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of advising the Student Investment Group is watching students take what they learn in class and apply it in a real investing environment,” she said. “Through this experience, they are also learning the value of stewardship and how to invest thoughtfully to create opportunities and scholarships for future College of Business students.”
In just a few short years, the Student Investment Group has grown from a newly established initiative into a cornerstone of the student experience in the College of Business, one where learning is active, responsibility is real, and the outcomes extend far beyond the classroom.
Looking ahead, the vision for SIG is ambitious. Some of their goals include growing the fund to support scholarships, creating a dedicated finance and trading lab, and providing opportunities for students to attend national conferences like the Student Managed Investment Fund Consortium in Chicago, Illinois. These goals have the potential to further connect classroom learning with industry practice and expand professional development opportunities for students. Students involved in SIG have discovered the value of hands-on learning, and their efforts are paving the way for valuable growth in future LCU students.