Forrest Wilkinson and Ali Mavrakis are taking some of what they're learning in business classes and offering it to their fellow students at the university. The two are co-founders, along with four others, of University Security Investment Team, an organization that aims to increase understanding of and experience in investing.

According to a story in The Daily Texan,

At the beginning of the semester, $40 in dues are taken from each member and pooled into a pot that students then use as their investment capital. Teams of up to eight then collaborate and agree on the best way to invest their dues and have friendly competition.

 

“There are lots of students interested in investment, but they don’t have the money,” Wilkinson said. “The great thing about [the team] is that it pulls together money, it allows for democratic decisions and is unique in that it’s interactive based on what the students decide to do. Nothing is hierarchy.”

 

The team is looking to expand nationally and has started branches at The University of Pennsylvania, The University of Chicago and at other UT campuses to create a diverse set of contacts.

Harvey Powers, a business honors junior, Jared Reyes, a junior finance major, Mark Rodriguez, a philosophy honors junior with a business minor, and Scott Loeb, a junior biology major, round out the group's leadership team. Wilkinson is a Plan II honors and finance junior, and Mavrakis is an undeclared sophomore business student.

Read the whole Daily Texan story.