Eberhardt School of Business News
Giving Back
(November 17, 2008) -
One might argue whether or not the Pacific Men’s Water Polo team needed team warm up suits. Sure, they looked professional in their Speedos, but now travel apparel is just one of the purchases the team can make, thanks to a gift from the Eberhardt Student Investment Fund (SIF).
Less than two years ago, the Eberhardt School of Business launched a new experiential learning program in which both undergraduate and MBA students could manage $1 million in investments. An initial gift from Douglass M. Eberhardt BUS ’59 and the Bank of Stockton made the fund possible. Due to the smart investing by the students participating in the fund, the SIF experienced great returns - outperforming the S&P 500 and others. The Board of Regents at the University noticed this success, and contributed another $250,000.
In the months following, the fund continued to grow and its students were able to see success in both their investments and their ability to give back. Upon establishing the fund, the Eberhardt family asked that any proceeds return to the University in a split between the Men’s Water Polo Team, Speech-Language Pathology, and the Eberhardt School of Business. That desire came alive last April, when each of these areas was presented an “oversized” check of just over $16,000 at the annual SIF board meeting. A total of $48,191 was distributed, only one year after the SIF’s inception.
Douglass M. Eberhardt, along with other members of the Eberhardt family and more than 60 others from the Pacific community were present for this exciting moment. Addressing the group, Eberhardt said, “Real world learning takes over where the book leaves off.”
He congratulated the students on their achievements and reiterated the importance of giving back to the community.
SIF President Nathan Dellinger BUS ’08, presented the first of the checks along with former Dean Chuck Williams and Douglass M. Eberhardt to Head Men’s Water Polo Coach James Graham and Assistant Athletic Director for Development Cindy Spiro. The second check was presented to Dean Phil Oppenheimer and Speech-Language Pathology Department Chair Robert Hanyak of the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The Eberhardt School delightfully accepted the third check.
Following the April distribution of funds, the SIF presented its standing to the Board of Regents, who approved another $250,000 to be added to the SIF, making it a $1.7 million student investment fund. It operates as a fully student-managed fund, under the direction of Professor Luann Bangsund. With its own dedicated investment lab in Weber Hall, the SIF is home to about 10 undergraduate and MBA students who were accepted after a formal application process. It is one of only 200 student investment funds in over 9,000 business schools worldwide.
“Based on my experiences at other business schools, it safe to say that 30 years from now, our SIF students will have earned and given more than $2 million,” said former Dean Chuck Williams.
Strictly Business Fall 2008 Issue
