UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State online undergraduate finance students are earning national recognition for their academic excellence and real-world preparation, achieving major milestones in the field. Recently, four online learners from across the country were part of a Penn State student team that won the CFA Society Pittsburgh local challenge in the CFA Institute Research Challenge, a global equity research competition, competing against students from top universities.
Another online finance student has been selected for the prestigious FinServ fellowship, gaining hands-on experience and mentorship in the financial planning industry.
Together, these online learners’ accomplishments highlight how the online bachelor’s in finance program, offered by Penn State Behrend through Penn State World Campus, is equipping students with the skills and opportunities to succeed in competitive, real-world environments, said Eric Robbins, associate teaching professor of finance at Penn State Behrend.
“Our program trains students to be job-ready using real-world projects and in-person interaction with industry,” Robbins, who also teaches online, said. “We are thrilled and energized seeing our students succeed in the professional world.”
Students earn recognition through national finance competition
Ana Jacomini, Coty Dolan, William Falquez and Cayson Woodley were part of the Penn State Behrend team in the CFA Institute competition. The group, which also included Behrend student Eli Karnavas, worked entirely remotely while developing an investment research report and analysis-based recommendation on Howmet Aerospace, a Pittsburgh-based company that manufactures components for jet engines, fasteners and wheels.
The team spent months analyzing the company’s financial performance, valuation and industry position to determine whether the stock was a buy, sell or hold. The students said that experience closely mirrored real-world research in investment analysis.
The team stayed closely connected despite the outside responsibilities they had to juggle.
“We were all from different parts of the United States, and most of us work full-time or have families as well,” Falquez said. “It was challenging, but we made it work.”
Jacomini, who served as team captain, said the competition emphasized both analytical thinking and communication.
“At its core, the project is about storytelling — presenting the most compelling narrative about a company supported by strong evidence,” Jacomini said.
Dolan said the experience reinforced his career path.
“This program is designed to prepare us for the CFA, and this is exactly what analysts do,” Dolan said.
Students also said the competition had a lasting impact on their confidence and professional development.
“It definitely gave me more confidence in presenting and being able to justify what I am saying,” Woodley said.
The team was named Eastern Sub-Regional Champions in the CFA Institute Research Challenge and will advance to the Americas Semifinal.
Fellowship expands opportunities in financial planning
Online finance student Sarah Smith is gaining industry exposure through the FinServ fellowship, a program that provides mentorship, professional development and networking opportunities in the financial planning field.
Smith, who previously worked as a cosmetologist and owns her own salon business, said she returned to school to pursue a finance degree after realizing she wanted to help others better understand and manage their finances.
“I really wanted to help small business owners, especially those like me, better manage the financial side of their businesses,” Smith said.
Through the fellowship, Smith participates in monthly virtual sessions with industry professionals, completes career-focused certifications and meets regularly with a mentor.
“The experience has been incredibly educational and enlightening,” Smith said.
She has also attended industry conferences, including EstateCon, and plans to attend the Invest in Women Conference in Boston, expanding her professional network and industry knowledge.
The involvement is helping her work toward her goal of being a certified financial planner, she said, with a focus on supporting small business owners and guiding them through long-term financial decisions.
Building confidence and preparing for future careers
Students said these experiences have strengthened both their skills and confidence as they prepare for careers in the financial industry.
“My course work equipped me with the tools and knowledge of where to find information, how to analyze it and how to quantify it in the report,” Gentry said.
“This experience made me feel that the sky is the limit as far as career trajectory,” Falquez said.
Visit the Penn State World Campus website to learn more about the online bachelor’s in finance.