Feb. 26, 2019
CONTACT: Dr. Neil Terry, 806-651-2530, nterry@wtamu.edu
WT's CFA Team Advances to Americas Regional Championship
CANYON, Texas—The West Texas A&M University CFA Research Challenge team won their 2019 Southwest U.S. Regional Championship bracket in San Antonio on Feb. 23 and will advance to compete for the Western Hemisphere Championship at the Americas Regional in New York City this April.
The CFA Institute Research Challenge—Southwest U.S. is an annual stock research competition hosted by the Charted Financial Analysts’ (CFA) societies of Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma and part of the Global CFA Institute Research Challenge. The principles applied in the CFA Research Challenge are (1) core knowledge of equity investments; (2) leadership, management, and communication skills; and (3) standards, ethics and regulations.
Baylor University and West Texas A&M University are the two Southwest representatives advancing to the championship for North and South America. With more than 35 universities participating, the Southwest U.S. is the second largest CFA competition in the world. Based on the quality of the written stock recommendation report, 10 finalist teams were chosen to participate in the oral presentation round at the regional finals. During the oral presentation competition, the WT team defeated competition from Southeastern Louisiana University, Texas A&M University, Trinity University and the University of Texas - El Paso. 
This year, each team researched Trecora Resources (TREC). The Company’s principal business activities are the manufacturing of various specialty petrochemical products and synthetic waxes and the provision of custom processing services.
"The CFA research challenge opened my eyes to potential career paths and taught me the true benefit of working as a team to complete a common goal," Bryan Modisette, a M.S. in finance and economics student from Amarillo, said.
"The students analyzed and valued the company, wrote a thorough stock analysis report, presented their recommendation and answered questions from a prestigious industry-judging panel," Dr. Barbara Wang, Gene Edwards Professor of Banking and faculty sponsor, said.
"Going through the CFA Challenge did a number of things for me. One specific thing it did for me was push me to limits I had never been before. In taking on the challenge, I knew I had long days and nights ahead. What was produced during these times was financial analysis that I never knew I could achieve. This brought a tremendous amount of connections to what I had been learning in the Engler College of Business. This will be an experience I will never forget and encourage others to pursue as well," Corey Orthengren, a finance and accounting major from Amarillo, said.
"CFA has forced me to push through uncertainty and self-doubt. I have mentally and physically navigated unchartered waters," Alexis Hext, a finance and management major from La Junta, CO said. "Without my team, and support from the COB faculty and my friends, I would not have been able to find success in competition and determine a potential career path."
"The competition is a chance to apply and showcase what our students have learned during their time in the Engler College of Business at West Texas A&M University. We are very proud of our students and the opportunity to move to the finals is a great achievement," Dr. Anne Macy, Gene Edwards Professor of Finance and faculty adviser, said.
—WTAMU—