From Oxford to Wall Street: Cleveland Research Celebrates 15 Years of Student Stock Pitch Competitions

By jborthwick

What began 15 years ago as a campus competition for Miami University students has grown into a nationally recognized event, drawing hundreds of students, top university teams, and leading investment professionals to Oxford, Ohio each spring.

Cleveland Research Company hosted its annual Miami University Student Stock Pitch Competition on April 10 and 11, 2025. This event welcomed 13 finalist teams from 10 universities across the country, selected from a pool of over 100 teams and 400 students nationwide. This was the third year the event opened participation to teams outside of Miami.

“The stock pitch competition continues to expand, providing a platform for growth and development for even more students in Oxford but also around the country. Each year, the bar is raised, and it is always exciting to see the students’ ideas come to life,” said Vince Ciepiel, Senior Research Analyst and Partner at Cleveland Research Company.

Held at Miami’s Farmer School of Business, the two-day competition offered more than just a shot at a title. Students joined networking dinners, heard from industry speakers, and received feedback from CRC analysts and other seasoned professionals. After the investment symposium, each team delivered a short presentation of their investment analysis, followed by Q&A with the judges.

“The final round Q&A session stood out to us – it was intellectually stimulating, and something we hadn’t seen in previous competitions. The judges asked very thought-provoking questions, and our team was grateful for the opportunity to compete and learn from the process,” said Ari Fooksman, Master of Science in Finance student at the University of Florida.

A total of $3,000 in prize money was awarded, with $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second, and $500 for third. This year’s top honors went to the University of Florida, with Indiana University placing second and Cornell University rounding out the top three.

This event pushes students to apply real-world investment frameworks and effectively communicate their ideas to an audience. For many, it’s a highlight of their academic journey.

“Presenting live and fielding questions on stage pushed me to think quickly and critically, which is a vital skill in any finance career. The experience opened my eyes to the intensity and appeal of the buy-side, and I left more motivated than ever to pursue that path,” said Nicolas Schull, Master of Science in Finance student at the University of Florida.

“The event was not only exceptionally well-run, but also left me with a much broader and more informed perspective on potential career paths,” said Robert Craig, Master of Science in Finance student at the University of Florida.

For CRC, this student stock pitch competition is more than just an event – it’s a way to invest in future talent and connect with universities that shape the industry’s next generation.

“With interest from over 400 students nationally, the competition is escalating, and all the invited in-person finalists and top 3 finishers have a lot to be proud of. A big thanks to Miami University as well as all the professional speakers and judges that carve out time to invest into the students,” Ciepiel said.

See you next year for round sixteen!