Written by Emma Weber // Photo by Briley Kemper
The Bison Fund is a project that involves different aspects of the stock market. This program has about one million dollars in which different teams research and invest in stock options. The experience has been unique for the students involved. Junior Management major Gloria Zelaya said she has been encouraged by the impact it has had on her.
“Fall 2023, I received an email from Ellis Sloan giving us a brief description of what the activity/project was about,” Gloria Zelaya said. “It is challenging and fun at the same time. I have never before had the opportunity to really evaluate a stock, and to think that this stock will be purchased for the benefit of Harding … It makes me know that I am really having an opportunity not only to contribute something positive to the University but also to acquire new knowledge and skills. Participating in this activity motivates me to give the best of myself.”
The teams meet twice a week under the supervision of Assistant Professor of Business Administration Ellis Sloan. They are given the responsibility of managing a 1 million dollar portfolio, and each team targets a specific sector to research, analyze, and select stocks to build a diverse and profitable portfolio. One team leader is senior Luis Zelaya, who is majoring in finance and pursuing a master’s in information systems. Luis Zelaya enjoys the rewarding feeling of making real decisions.
“I’m in charge of the information technology sector, and along with my teammates my work involves research and analysis. I spend time studying company financials, researching industry trends, and making recommendations about potential profitable investments,” Luis Zelaya said. “The most impactful part for me has been learning how to navigate the world of investments; it’s challenging, but rewarding. Plus, actually making decisions that affect real money brings a whole new level of understanding.”
During their meeting time, the teams research and present on different information about their sector. The teams look into stocks and companies that seem to have good valuation. After the presentations, they decide whether or not to purchase it.
“I consider this program to be like a work experience, where I get to practice working in a team, divide tasks, get together and look for solutions in order to obtain a specific result,” Gloria Zelaya said. “The objective of presenting and evaluating statements has allowed me to develop and affirm my communication skills, responsibility, coordination and collaboration to obtain a common result and seek excellence in each of the required aspects.”
Junior finance major Nick Aziamov is also involved in the program. Aziamov keeps spreadsheets organized and said he enjoys watching how the stocks are doing. The experience has enlightened his view of the market as well as given him practical experience for the future.
“At some point after college, I would love to help people invest their money and plan financially with them, so this is really good and applicable for learning how to determine what would be best to invest in and then be able to communicate why that is,” Aziamov said. “It’s challenging to actually know what the future will be. A lot of it is educated guesswork, but at any point the market could shoot up and get lucky or crash and get unlucky. It’s not all luck-based though. We still take lots of steps to put ourselves in the right positions and balance risk and everything we need to do, but you still can never be 100% sure.”
