Author: Emily Shugerman
The Blyth Fund, Occidental’s student-run investment group, is running a virtual stock competition open to all students in an effort to spread awareness on campus. The competition, which closes to entrants on Feb. 15, gives students $100,000 in virtual money and challenges them to invest it as profitably as they can. The contestant with the highest profit at the end of the competition wins a $25 gift card and an interview for a position on the Blyth Fund.
The Blyth Fund is a group of students who, with minimal oversight from an advisor, are responsible for investing a six-figure portion of Occidental’s endowment. According to the Fund’s Director, economics and math major Andrew Imthurn (senior), the members of the Fund meet twice a week to go over market news, give educational presentations and review their holdings.
“The Blyth Fund offers students hands-on experience far beyond what is available at most other colleges and universities,” Blyth Fund adviser and Economics Department Chair Professor Woody Studenmund said via email. “Our primary goal is to provide Oxy students with a unique educational opportunity, so we encourage applicants from all majors and all levels of experience with the stock market.”
Applications for the Fund are due March 8. The application process includes submitting a resume, responding to an essay prompt and, if selected, attending an interview. The members of the Fund decided to attach the prize of an interview to the virtual stock competition in order to make a stronger connection between the Blyth Fund and the competition.
“We really wanted to increase awareness [of the Fund] outside of the economics department,” Imthurn said.
The Fund may have achieved this goal, as Imthurn noticed that they have seen an increase in applications since the competition was first created.
Imthurn also emphasized that although the competition centers around making short-term investments, the Blyth Fund does not encourage or engage in this practice. The members of the Fund hopes to use the competition to find potential Blyth Fund applicants who are interested in investing, not necessarily those who are only skilled in making short-term investments.
“It’s always been about spreading the word about Blyth Fund,” Imthurn said.
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