Creighton University Student Portfolio

The next student manager spotlight goes to Eleanor Nentl, a Financial Analysis and Marketing double major from Tucson, AZ! Eleanor covers the Materials sector of our portfolio, and has had internships at Integrated Trade Finance and First Westroads Bank. Following graduation, Eleanor aspires to start a career in Equity Research/Analysis or Investor Relations in Real Estate in the Chicago, New York, or Boston metropolitan areas! "Being part of the Creighton University Portfolio Practicum has been an invaluable learning experience. I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity and for the incredible people I’ve had the chance to work with. Throughout the class, I aimed to deepen my understanding of firm analysis by integrating both quantitative and qualitative data. This experience has provided hands-on learning through my shared role as a sector analyst, allowing me to evaluate companies while also gaining insights from my peers on the broader portfolio. The challenges have been rewarding, and the knowledge I’ve gained is truly irreplaceable. Excited for what’s ahead!" Fantastic work, Eleanor! We look forward to what lies ahead for you at both the Creighton University Student Portfolio and beyond!

Our next student manager spotlight goes to Kylie Eker, a Finance major and Spanish and Hispanic Studies minor from Erie, CO! Kylie covers the Financial (Banking) and Real Estate sectors of our portfolio, and has had an internship at Union Pacific Railroad. Following graduation, Kylie aspires to start a career in Real Estate Analysis or Financial Consulting in the DC, Boston, or Chicago metropolitan areas! "This practicum has given me the ability to apply what I have learned in my finance classes at Creighton into impactful investment decisions. The opportunity to collaborate with a talented and driven group of peers while delving into my passion for financial analysis, particularly within the banking and real estate sectors, has been an incredible experience. It can be challenging at times, but I am looking forward to apply the skills I have learned in the practicum to my future career." Congratulations on all your accomplishments, Kylie! We look forward to your last couple of months here with the Creighton University Student Portfolio!

Our next student manager spotlight goes to Stephen Wheadon, a graduate student from St Louis, MO, pursuing a Masters of Investment Management and Financial Analysis at the Heider College of Business! Stephen covers the Consumer Discretionary, Energy, and Utilities sectors of our portfolio and has had internships at Together Credit Union, Enterprise Holdings, and Lockton Companies. While pursuing his MIMFA, Stephen will be working at Lockton Companies as an Account Specialist! "The Portfolio Practicum has provided me with a valuable opportunity to apply what I have been learning in the classroom to real-world scenarios. One of my favorite parts of the practicum has been collaborating with my teams to evaluate our companies and make decisions that have long-term implications for the school and the endowment, specifically in sectors that are operating in challenging environments. The course has improved my ability to communicate my research effectively and think strategically about portfolio construction." We congratulate you on all of your accomplishments, Stephen! We look forward to the further impact you will have on the Creighton University Student Portfolio and beyond!

To start off the last eight weeks of the 2024-2025 school year, the Creighton University Student Portfolio had the opportunity to hear from Tributary Capital Management's Conan Heelan, CFA and Stephen Lacke! Conan has been at Tributary for over 7 years, while Stephen was a part of the Portfolio Practicum course for the 2020-2021 school year. We enjoyed their insights into the investment decision-making process and learning about Tributary’s small and midcap strategies. Learning from professionals across a range of firms and asset classes gives CUSP managers the opportunity to explore a wide range of career paths in finance. We greatly appreciate your time, Conan and Stephen, as well as the entire team at Tributary, for sharing your wisdom with our student fund managers!

Our next student manager spotlight goes to Tommy Pugsley, a Finance and Economics double major from Omaha, NE! Tommy covers the Healthcare sector of our portfolio, and has had internships at Creighton Business Services, Ludacka Wealth Partners, Lutz, and Acclaro Valuation Advisors. Following graduation, Tommy will be staying in Omaha to join SageSpring Wealth Partners in their mentorship program! "The Portfolio Practicum has been one of my most challenging yet rewarding experiences at Creighton University. I appreciate the hands-on experience of the Portfolio Practicum, as it has allowed me to utilize all the lessons I learned at Creighton. Participating in an environment that promotes real-world application, decision-making, risk management, and exposure to industry tools is a blessing. I particularly enjoyed collaborating with my classmates, fostering both learning and growth. Overall, the practicum is an invaluable opportunity to challenge oneself and prepare for a career in finance." Congratulations on all your achievements, Tommy! We can't wait for your last couple of months here with the Creighton University Student Portfolio!

Our next student manager spotlight goes to Riley Oldani, an Economics and Finance & Technology double major from Phoenix, AZ! Riley covers the Insurance sector of our portfolio, and has had internships at Ludacka Wealth Partners and National Indemnity Company. Riley aspires to start his career as a financial/research analyst following graduation, and will be taking the Level 1 CFA exam in August! "I'm super thankful for the Portfolio Practicum experience and want to thank Melissa Woodley, PhD, CFA for the incredible opportunity. Through the Portfolio Practicum, I have received hands-on experience in valuing equities and managing a portfolio with peers. I've really appreciated all of the amazing people I've gotten the chance to work with in this class. While challenging, the class is more than worth it, and the knowledge I have gained is irreplaceable!" Congratulations on all your achievements, Riley! We look forward to your next few months at the Creighton University Student Portfolio and beyond!

Our next student manager spotlight goes to Caroline Steill, a Finance and Accounting double major from North Sioux City, SD! Caroline covers the Consumer Discretionary sector of our portfolio, and has had internships at Wells Fargo, Harrison Street Real Estate Capital, and IBC Insurance. Following graduation, Caroline will be moving to Malvern, PA to join Vanguard's Acceleration into Financial Professional Program on the Corporate Finance track! "Joining the Portfolio Practicum has been one of the most enriching experiences of my time at Creighton. I have gained valuable insights not only from analyzing my sector and companies but also from exposure to other industries. CUSP has been the perfect culmination of four years of classroom learning, allowing me to apply my skills in a real-world setting. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to join this class and further develop my expertise for my career." Fantastic work, Caroline! We are excited for the last few months that you have here with the Creighton University Student Portfolio!

A special thank you to Todd Trautman, CFA, CFP from Prodigy Asset Management for coming to speak to our class this past week! Todd was involved in the Creighton University Student Portfolio from 1995-1996, and has been at Prodigy for the majority of his career. One of the most valuable aspects of this class, besides being able to apply Creighton's finance curriculum on real investment decisions, is having the opportunity to listen to a wide variety of industry leaders across the scope of Wealth Management, especially in the Omaha area! With that being said, we would also like to thank Blake Anderson, CFA from Carson Group, and John Darwin, CFA & Dan Podpeskar, CFA from Bridges Trust for coming to present to us earlier in the semester!

Attention class of 2026 at Creighton University's Heider College of Business - Applications are now open for the 2025-2026 Portfolio Practicum! To apply for this course, submit your materials by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. See your Creighton email for full application instructions. Emails are from Nicole McAndrew. Additional Information The Portfolio Practicum is a two-course sequence open to seniors in any major who will have completed FIN 325 by the start of the class. When you apply for FIN 435, you are committing to taking FIN 436 during Spring semester as well. The course requires considerable outside work, so only students who have adequate time to commit to the course should consider applying. If you have any questions about the application process or the Portfolio Practicum, please feel free to contact Dr. Melissa Woodley, Harper 3016D or by email at [email protected].?

Our next student manager spotlight goes to Blake Stawarz, a Financial Planning major from Cary, IL! Blake covers the Consumer Discretionary sector of our portfolio, and has had internships at Siemens and Exemplar Financial Network. Following graduation, Blake will be moving to Maple Grove, MN to join ProWealth Financial as an Associate Financial Advisor! "The Portfolio Practicum has been an invaluable learning experience during my senior year at Creighton. As a financial planning major, I wanted to be confident talking to clients about how and why investment decisions were made. The practicum course delivered exactly that with real-world analysis experience, buy/sell presentations, valuation models, and much more. It wasn’t easy at first, but I now feel much more prepared for what’s ahead of me after graduation!" Congratulations on all your accomplishments, Blake! We look forward to what your future holds with the Creighton University Student Portfolio and beyond!