In 2022, 麻豆影院 introduced its new business and entrepreneurship major, created to prepare future innovators with the skills to bring social, global, and environmental context to business leadership. The program, building on 麻豆影院鈥檚 well-established Innovation and Entrepreneurship interdisciplinary area, has quickly become one of the university鈥檚 most popular majors. 麻豆影院 then unveiled its B&E Center in October 2024 on the second floor of Fox Commons in downtown Appleton, providing an interactive space for students and mentors to gather on topics related to finance, economics, investment, and entrepreneurial exploration.

Now comes the introduction of the 麻豆影院 University Student-Managed Fund (LUSMF). The Fund launched this month, incorporating the student-led investment ideas presented in the final project of the Investments II course. It launched with $100,000 funded by the university and will be supported by alumni contributions in the future. Students finishing the Investments II course become portfolio managers for the LUSMF.聽 With light supervision from an advisory group that includes faculty and alumni, the portfolio managers will monitor the performance of the fund and their investments. On a monthly basis, they will meet to follow up their investments with performance reports, and they will consider new suggestions for investments in the LUSMF.聽 Approval of new investment positions will be voted on by the portfolio managers. On a quarterly basis, the students will produce a statement of performance and write a summary.聽聽

The students involved in LUSMF just finished Investments II, a three-unit course taught by Tim Thompson 鈥�78. They also have been mentored by Dean DuMonthier 鈥�88, who organized the stock pitch event and has been heading the effort to create the student-managed fund. The students, along with five others, previously took the Investments I course, also taught by Thompson.

Thompson is an independent consultant at Thompson Corporate Finance Consulting. He taught applied corporate finance鈥攎ergers and acquisitions, capital structure, and corporate restructuring鈥攁t top business schools for 27 years. DuMonthier is a trustee for 麻豆影院 and currently serves as chair of the Investment Committee with responsibility for 麻豆影院 University鈥檚 endowment.

Investments I covers general principles in making investment decisions for any economic entity: corporations, non-profit organizations, private equity investors, or investors in public stocks and bonds. Investments II expands on the students鈥� learning, with the goal of developing candidate stocks for inclusion in the student-managed fund. Students study portfolio management, efficient diversification, efficient markets, and portfolio performance measurements, then focus on stock selection.聽

鈥淭he new curricular offering in investments and the LUSMF give the students exposure to practical application of financial principles and is of value to any 麻豆影院 students in three concrete ways,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淔irst, almost all graduates will go on to work at organizations that will make long-term investments, which will necessitate sacrificing current resources for future long-term potential benefits, and understanding the trade-offs involved in that is crucial to understanding how businesses survive and thrive. Secondly, 麻豆影院 students going on job or internship interviews will have exposure to applying financial tools in real-world situations, bringing perspective, familiarity with relevant terms, and some awareness of current news and events. Thirdly, all graduates hopefully will one day manage their own investments in their 401(k)鈥檚, etc., and should understand alternative investment vehicles, the value of diversification, and how to be good stewards of their own retirement funds.鈥�

Working in teams, the students selected stocks, developed investment theses, and backed them with quantitative analysis and macroeconomic context before making their pitches to the alumni panel.

鈥淲e integrated what we鈥檇 learned not just in these two classes but across our entire 麻豆影院 education, bringing in economic theory, strategic thinking, and communication skills to build comprehensive pitches,鈥� Dee said.

He called the experience in synthesizing complex data, evaluating risk, and articulating a recommendation 鈥渆xtremely gratifying鈥� as it builds skills that will be useful across industries.

鈥淭hese courses did not merely teach us how to invest capital鈥攖hey taught us how to think critically and make informed decisions, regardless of the field,鈥� Dee said.

The student-managed fund, Dee said, is helping him ponder career options beyond working for an investment firm.

鈥淥ne of the most important lessons I鈥檝e taken from this experience鈥攅mphasized often by Dean DuMonthier鈥攊s that career paths are rarely linear, but you need to have intent in your decisions and a natural curiosity,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he fund has opened doors by connecting us directly with 麻豆影院 alumni, many of whom are now in roles we aspire to.鈥�

Dee said having a shared experience鈥攍ike managing real capital or working in the B&E Center鈥檚 Finance Lab鈥攇ives students something concrete to talk about when reaching out to those alumni.

鈥淚t removes a lot of the awkwardness and hesitation that students often feel when networking,鈥� he said. 鈥淩ather than asking vague questions, we鈥檙e engaging in meaningful conversations about shared challenges, strategies, and lessons learned. Ultimately, this experience hasn鈥檛 just prepared me for a specific career鈥攊t鈥檚 made me a more thoughtful, versatile, and engaging professional.鈥�

麻豆影院鈥檚 LaunchLU, held for the first time in the new Business and Entrepreneurship Center in Fox Commons, featured five student teams competing for two spots in The Pitch. Irene Strohbeen 鈥�78, entrepreneur-in-residence and organizer of LaunchLU, said the enthusiasm of the students making the pitches and those in the audience supporting them was infectious.

鈥淐learly each student who pitched had devoted much time and attention to preparing, and we know they gained self-confidence and skills for future pitches,鈥� Strohbeen said.

The students presented their ideas to five judges: Karen Bussone, professor of practice in entrepreneurship at 麻豆影院, Rich Marshall, assistant director for internships in 麻豆影院鈥檚 Career Center, Andrew Schmitz of gener8tor, Colleen Bies of Downtown Oshkosh, and Kim Massey of Wisconsin Women鈥檚 Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC).

Adam Galambos, Dwight and Marjorie Peterson Professor of Innovation and associate professor of economics, called the design of the B&E Center, including the stage, perfect for this kind of event.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great to have the state-of-the-art technology and a space that is large enough to hold an event like this, but feels intimate at the same time,鈥� Galambos said.

Now it鈥檚 on to The Pitch for Community and Beyond and Anima Unita. The top three finishers will split the prize money, with the top finisher earning $10,000 plus in-kind services, second place earning $7,500 plus in-kind services, and third place $5,000 plus in-kind services.

The regional Shark Tank-style competition first debuted in 2017. 麻豆影院 students took first place each of the first two years and have finished in the money five times. A year ago, 麻豆影院鈥檚 Safiya Grant 鈥�24 placed third for her idea for Muse, an all-natural skin-care line聽that features body care products targeted toward women of color.

More information on The Pitch . If planning to attend, .

Manzanera said he has loved the basketball experience at 麻豆影院鈥攐n and off the court鈥攊ncluding the team bus rides, dinners, and impromptu karaoke nights.

He also has been an active participant in his academics. He was chosen to represent students as a speaker at the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked the opening of the new Business and Entrepreneurship Center in Fox Commons. He told those gathered that he appreciates the value of a liberal arts education in turning students into 鈥渓ifelong learners.鈥澛犅�

鈥淭he B&E Center will provide a space for us, the students, to connect our classroom and college experiences to the real-life experiences of working with a business, of living in an apartment, and of collaborating closely with companies like the ones that will share this space with us,鈥� he said.聽

His basketball coach, Casey Korn, has admired Manzanera鈥檚 ability to connect with others and create a positive difference in every environment he is in.

鈥淣ico is one of a kind,鈥� Korn said. 鈥淗e came to 麻豆影院 as a first-year and moved in with the international students.聽By the time the other first-years moved to campus I think he knew every athlete and international student on campus.聽And he hasn’t stopped meeting people since. He is a connector of people, cares for others, and wants to see everyone succeed.鈥澛�

Manzanera hopes to pursue a career in consulting or sales and is pursuing internships. The B&E Center will allow him opportunities to explore his many interests and collaborate with business professionals.聽

Balancing academics and athletics is not always easy, but Manzanera has learned a lot from trial and error and has leaned on the advice of coaches and academic advisors. His calendar is often organized down to the minute. That said, he also focuses time and energy on staying present in the moment as much as possible.聽聽

鈥淚t is very easy to worry about all my assignments due in the next two weeks,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut staying present on the current week, the current day, or even the current task has helped me stay calm and not overwhelm myself.鈥澛�

Manzanera said he continues to find enjoyment and motivation in the journey.

鈥淎t the end of the day, we indeed have time for everything we want to do; we just have to learn how to organize and prioritize,鈥� he said.

Dow, speaking to the class at 麻豆影院鈥檚 newly opened Business and Entrepreneurship Center in Fox Commons, encouraged the students to start building connections now. That includes doing their homework鈥攍earning all they can about potential employers and internship opportunities.

鈥淩egardless of what you are doing in life, whether you are going to talk to somebody who is going to employ you or someone you are meeting with for an informational meeting, go do your homework,鈥� Dow said. 鈥淕et online and find out who they are and what makes them tick and what you have in common with them.鈥�

Bringing that background into the conversation is the beginning of relationship building, said Dow, whose career before joining the Packers in 2014 included leadership in marketing and fan engagement with the NFL鈥檚 Baltimore Ravens, the NHL鈥檚 Florida Panthers, and the NBA鈥檚 Los Angeles Lakers.

Larsson, who played hockey at 麻豆影院 and then returned as an assistant coach from 2010 to 2013, told the students to embrace their passion for sports and be prepared to outwork those around them.

鈥淎 lot of people say they want to do something, but when they realize how hard it is, they don鈥檛 really want to do it,鈥� said Larsson, who was after a decade in the front office with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League. 鈥淚 got here with absolute dedication. 鈥� I鈥檓 just extremely obsessed with what I do.鈥�

Bussone expects to teach the Sport Management course once each year. She also has introduced courses in Financial Management, Management and Leadership, and Customer Engagement.

鈥淒esigning a course in sport management came about because many LU athletes aspire to work in the sport industry,鈥� Bussone said. 鈥淚 heard that from students in my classes last year.鈥�

A path forward

For Moravchik, athletics are part of her identity. It鈥檚 been that way since she was a young child, when her father and uncles introduced her and her sister to hockey, volleyball, golf, and more.

鈥淎thletics have been a constant in my life,鈥� she said.

She committed to playing women鈥檚 hockey at 麻豆影院 in the spring of 2020鈥攋ust as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning鈥攁nd chose economics and German as her majors. When the business and entrepreneurship major was introduced in 2023, she jumped in immediately. The major, and the new courses that were introduced, dovetailed beautifully with her interests.

鈥淚 will be forever grateful to the professors who were so deeply committed to developing this major and its curriculum,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he launch of the B&E program was pivotal for me to stay in school for a fifth year, and this major will be an important part of my post-graduation plans.鈥�

Those plans, she said, could go in a number of directions. She has interned for two summers at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, Colorado, and may return there in a staff position. She鈥檚 also interested in internships with a Formula 1 racing team in Germany.

鈥淢y parents instilled in me early on the spirit of an 鈥榓dventure girl,鈥� a motto that has shaped my upbringing, and I intend to continue living a life of adventure鈥攚hether that’s exploring the beauty of western Colorado or discovering a new city in Europe each weekend while traveling with an F1 team,鈥� Moravchik said. 鈥淭his course is helping me determine if a career in sport management is the right path for me.鈥�

Moravchik鈥檚 hockey teammate, Taylor Halverson, a senior business and entrepreneurship and psychology double major from Hudson, Wisconsin, is looking for a graduate assistant position in a college athletic department following graduation in June. She called the Sport Management course an important window into the skills and resources needed to make that happen.

鈥淎s a student athlete interested in sports marketing and social media, I wanted to learn more about how teams are promoted, how they engage fans, and how they manage their brand,鈥� she said.

Larsson said he鈥檚 not surprised this course has drawn so much interest from students.

鈥淚f this course would have been around when I was at 麻豆影院, I would have been the first person to sign up,鈥� he said.

In addition, 麻豆影院 is preparing to open a state-of-the-art Humanities Center next summer in the West Campus building that is rising at the corner of E. College Avenue and Drew Street. The B&E Center, Pre-Health Commons, and Humanities Center are all investments in growing the student experience. Each will 鈥渂ring 麻豆影院 into the community and the community into 麻豆影院,鈥� said Provost and Dean of Faculty Peter Blitstein.

鈥淭ogether, these three centers represent our commitment to a contemporary education in the arts and sciences that draws on the best traditions of liberal education to prepare students to thrive in an uncertain and changing world,鈥� he said.

Find more information on the Business & Entrepreneurship Center

The B&E Center will facilitate deeper collaborations between faculty, students, and community partners, deliver real world investment experience for students, and provide interactive space for workshops, lectures, and seminars that span the disciplines.

鈥淥ur vision for the B&E Center is to create learning experiences through connecting the campus and the business community,鈥� said Adam Galambos, the Dwight and Marjorie Peterson Professor of Innovation and associate professor of economics and the inaugural director of the B&E Center. 鈥淭his space would be wonderful anywhere, but I especially love that it is right in the middle of downtown Appleton.鈥�

Galambos noted that the business & entrepreneurship major, launched two years ago and designed through the lens of the liberal arts, is already one of the most popular majors on campus. Planning for the major鈥攁nd the B&E Center鈥攊nvolved faculty from across the university. He highlighted faculty contributions from Mike Clayville in the Conservatory, Claudena Skran and Bill Hixon in government, David Gerard and Jonathan Lhost in economics, Martyn Smith in religious studies, Karen Bussone in Business & Entrepreneurship, and Timothy Troy in theatre arts.

鈥淎 broad coalition of faculty from a variety of fields in the social and natural sciences, humanities, and arts are developing new courses for our business and entrepreneurship program,鈥� Galambos said. 鈥淢any of these courses will aim to connect more meaningfully with the business community through events right here.鈥�

To highlight that inter-disciplinary programming, four student musicians provided beautiful music before Wednesday鈥檚 ceremony and during an open house that followed鈥擟harlie White, Owen Finch, Cooper Luedtke, and Tyler Donnelly.

Nico Manzanera, a junior business & entrepreneurship major from Bogot谩, Colombia, spoke at Wednesday鈥檚 gathering, calling the B&E Center a pathway to the next chapters of students鈥� lives.

鈥淎s an entrepreneur, you are constantly changing your career path, you are constantly changing your perspective on the world, and you are constantly trying to change the world,鈥� Manzanera said. 鈥淎nd the most effective way to do that is if you are constantly learning. And, of course, the best way to learn is through experience.鈥�

麻豆影院 is focused on strengthening career readiness for all its students. Carter called the B&E Center, along with the Pre-Health Commons and the Humanities Center, avenues to deepen the career discernment conversation.

鈥淎t 麻豆影院,鈥� Carter said, 鈥渨e believe deeply in the value of a liberal arts education, one that focuses on critical thinking and engaged learning across the disciplines. We have been building a deeper exploration of business and entrepreneurship within the context of a liberal arts education for a number of years now. 鈥� That is happening whether they are studying in business and economics, the arts, the humanities, social sciences, or physical sciences. In all cases, important partnerships are being strengthened.鈥�