Eight students in the Sam and Irene Black School of Business have received funding to take the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams. The exams are sponsored by the CFA Institute, which has accepted Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, into its University Recognition Program.
Five students received scholarships from the CFA Institute. Three others received awards through the CFA Society of Pittsburgh and the Black School of Business.
The following students received funding: Gena Braxton, of Pittsburgh; Thomas Iliffe, of Galveston, Texas; Mason Marion, of Ellwood City; Jainik Mody, of Mumbai, India; Adrian Pinto, of Erie; Amy Rice, of North East; Brian Seelinger, of Erie; and Kyle VanDusen, of Tioga.
The Chartered Financial Analyst designation is the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world. Many employers require the CFA designation when selecting candidates for certain positions.
Candidates for a CFA designation must pass three successive professional exams and accumulate four years of relevant work experience.
Penn State Behrend’s inclusion in the CFA Institute University Recognition Program demonstrates to employers and potential students that the curriculum of the finance degree program is closely tied to professional practice. In order to be considered, an academic program has to incorporate at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, with particular emphasis on the code of ethics and standards of practice.
“The finance program at Penn State Behrend offers a unique opportunity in the region and within the Penn State system for students to distinguish themselves from other graduates by having a curriculum tied directly to learning objectives associated with financial designations offering real-world applications,” said Greg Filbeck, the Samuel P. Black III professor of finance and risk management at Penn State Behrend.