UMSL students win Industry Issues Competition put on by the Society of Financial Service Professionals

UMSL Daily

Emily Donaldson, Adam Tiemann and Jacob Duren pose with their plaques for taking top prize in the 2017 Industry Issues Competition put on by the Society of Financial Service Professionals. The trio also won a $5,000 scholarship check, held by Professors Thomas Eyssell and Gaiyan Zhang, and a trophy, held by their coach, senior lecturer Gary Flotron. (Photo by August Jennewein)
There was a brief moment when terror might have overtaken Emily Donaldson.
She had been tasked with opening a presentation with fellow University of Missouri–St. Louis College of Business Administration students Jacob Duren and Adam Tiemann in a meeting room full of financial service professionals.
The presentation aimed to cover the topic “Career Opportunities: Evaluating Careers and Attributes for Success in the Financial Services Profession” as part of the 2017 Industry Issues Competition, hosted by the Society of Financial Service Professionals through its University Partners Program for the sixth consecutive year.
Just before beginning her remarks Jan. 23 at the Wigwam Resort in Phoenix, Donaldson glanced down to review her note card – and realized she had the wrong one.
“I had a moment where I was like, ‘Oh, shoot …’” said Donaldson, but she managed to let it pass before it could grab hold of her. “I just said, ‘OK, it’s showtime. Let’s go with this.’”
Donaldson calmly delivered her introduction and went on to relay information about the field of estate planning before turning it over to teammates Duren and Tiemann to talk about financial planning and actuarial science, respectively.
Despite its potentially disconcerting start, theirs was judged to be the strongest presentation among the competition’s three finalists, topping teams from Utah Valley University and the University of Akron.
Their victory won them a trophy, which will be displayed at the College of Business Administration, as well as a first-place $5,000 scholarship for UMSL.
“These guys just nailed it,” said ...

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