After five rounds of rigorous CFA Institute Research Challenge competition, Appalachian State University students have emerged victorious from the Americas Finals, placing them among the top six of more than 1,000 participating universities worldwide.
The students, Keira Andrews, Carson Beane, Jack Parquette, Davis Pharr, and Brenden Wortman, comprise App State's 2025 Broyhill Fellows team.
They earned the title of Americas Champions during the North and South Americas Regional Final Round of competition on April 10, outperforming competing groups from Babson College, Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, the University of Alberta, the University of Oklahoma.
The Broyhill Fellows now advance to the Global Final Round of the competition in Chicago, Illinois, on May 5, where they will vie for the title of World Champs. They will compete against Kozminski University (Poland), the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland), the University of Hong Kong (China), the University of Sydney (Australia), and the University of Waterloo (Canada).
The students represent continued App State success in the annual challenge. Broyhill Fellows teams, which are selected from the university's Bowden Investment Group membership, have won 13 of the 17 State Rounds and four out of the five Southeastern Rounds of the competition.
"They have demonstrated outstanding dedication, insight, and professionalism—representing Appalachian with excellence and heart at every stage," said Faculty Advisor Dr. Brandy Hadley. "We are grateful to Mr. Patrick Wells, Senior Portfolio Manager at Broyhill Asset Management, for his invaluable mentorship and support...[as well as] the legacy built by prior teams and Dr. Delbert Goff, whose dedication helped lay the foundation for success."
Learn more about the history of the Broyhill name and read recent news posts about them and fellow Bowden Investment Group members.
About App State's Broyhill Fellows
Four to five finance and banking students from Appalachian State University are selected from the membership of the Bowden Investment Group to participate annually in the CFA Institute Research Challenge. Named the Broyhill Fellows in honor of the Walker College of Business' long-standing relationship with the Broyhill Family, the students are mentored by employees of Broyhill Asset Management.
About App State's Bowden Investment Group
The Elbert V. Bowden Investment Group allows students to gain hands-on investment experience as part of an investment management course. The Elbert V. Bowden Student Managed Investment Fund was established in January 2000 in the Department of Finance, Banking, and Insurance at Appalachian State University, and financial donations from alumni, faculty, businesses, and other supporters have added to the fund's total net assets. Students analyze investment opportunities and manage a real investment portfolio, aiming for a return on invested funds that exceeds the return on the S&P 500 Index. Learn more at https://big.appstate.edu.
About App State's Department of Finance, Banking, and Insurance
The Department of Finance, Banking, and Insurance develops leaders for business, government, and education by offering a Bachelor of Science in business administration in two specializations: finance and banking and risk management and insurance. Learn more at https://finance.appstate.edu.
From left are 2025 Broyhill Fellows Brenden Wortman, Carson Beane, Keira Andrews, Jack Parquette, and Davis Pharr.
Pictured following their first-place finish in the North Carolina Round on March 4, 2025.