The department extends its congratulations to the Bowden Investment Group and its student organizers, Portfolio Risk Managers Pearce Lowrey and Ethan Greene, for their rigorous planning and execution of the recent Sustainable Horizons Stock Pitch Competition. We also commend the invaluable faculty guidance provided by Dr. Hadley and Mr. Poole, whose support helps provide students with hands-on experience in equity research and real-world exposure to capital markets.
Held at the Appalachian State Hickory campus, this marked the first time the competition was conducted in person. The event drew a record 28 submissions from student investment teams across the United States and the United Kingdom.
The competition's theme centered on resilient growth, challenging students to present comprehensive equity pitches that evaluated companies for strong growth potential, operational excellence, and responsible business practices. From the initial pool of submissions, three finalist teams were selected to present their pitches live to a panel of industry judges. A team from Rice University earned first place for its short position pitch on O'Reilly Automotive, Inc., followed by New York University in second place and Middlebury College in third.
Walker College of Business Hosts Inaugural In-Person Sustainable Horizons Stock Pitch Competition on Hickory Campus, Drawing Record Submissions from Across the Globe
Rice University Claims First Place with Short Pitch on O'Reilly Automotive; Competition Attracts 28 Submissions from the U.S. and the United Kingdom
BOONE, N.C. — The Bowden Investment Group (BIG) at Appalachian State University's Walker College of Business successfully hosted the Sustainable Horizons Stock Pitch Competition on Friday, March 27, 2026, at the Appalachian State Hickory campus, marking the first time the competition has been held in person after previous editions were conducted virtually.
The competition drew a record 28 submissions from student investment teams spanning the country — from California to New York — and as far as the United Kingdom, reflecting the growing national and international profile of the event. Three finalist teams were selected to present their pitches live before a panel of industry judges.
Sustainable Horizons Stock Pitch
The Sustainable Horizons Stock Pitch Competition challenges student investment teams to develop and present a comprehensive, real-world equity pitch, evaluated across the same dimensions that define professional investment management. The competition's theme of resilient growth reflects both Appalachian State University's broader commitment to sustainability and the enduring investment principles that drive long-term value creation.
Participating teams submitted full pitch decks covering a company's business model, industry landscape and competitive positioning, investment thesis, financial analysis, valuation methodology, key investment risks, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations, with each category scored by the Bowden Investment Groups members. In evaluating these pitches, the competition sought companies with not only strong growth potential and long-term value creation, but also clear evidence of innovation, operational excellence, and responsible business practices. The multi-dimensional rubric ensured that the group evaluated not only the strength of a team's financial model, but also their ability to think critically about a company's broader market position, resilience, and long-term sustainability as an investment.
From a record pool of 28 submissions, the three highest-scoring teams were selected to travel to the Appalachian State Hickory campus to present their pitches live before the judging panel, mirroring the pressure and professionalism of a real-world investment committee.
Competition Results
A team from Rice University claimed first place and a $750 prize for its short position pitch on O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. A team from New York University earned second place and a $500 prize with a long pitch on The Chemours Company. A student from Middlebury College rounded out the podium, finishing third and earning $250 for a long pitch on Lululemon Athletica Inc.
Panel of Judges
The competition was judged by a distinguished panel of finance professionals, all with ties to Appalachian State University. Matt Ramundo, a former member of the Bowden Investment Group and Investment Banking Associate at Wells Fargo, was joined byHannah Bagley, an App State alumna and Investment Banking Analyst at Regions, and Jimmy Said, a former BIG member and Structured Products Analyst at Wells Fargo.
Featured Keynote Speaker
The event featured a keynote address by Sam Kaufman, an Appalachian State University alumnus and seasoned Wall Street veteran who recently concluded a distinguished 25-year career in institutional fixed income sales. Kaufman shared insights on career development in finance, reflected on his experience as a bond salesman across multiple investment banks, and offered practical guidance on how young investors should approach portfolio diversification.
Throughout his career, Kaufman covered a broad range of institutional clients, including life insurance and reinsurance company portfolios, hedge funds, bank portfolios, and money managers. A graduate of App State's BSBA Marketing program and Indiana University's Kelley School of Business MBA in Finance, Kaufman currently serves as an adjunct professor at Appalachian State University's Walker College of Business, where he teaches Introduction to Finance and a Fixed Income course, applying both academic theory and hands-on market experience in the classroom.
Event Organization
This year’s Sustainable Horizons Stock Pitch Competition was developed and executed by Bowden Investment Group Portfolio Risk Managers Pearce Lowrey and Ethan Greene, with invaluable faculty guidance from Dr. Hadley and Mr. Poole of the Walker College of Business. From coordinating a record-breaking submission pool spanning multiple time zones to hosting the first-ever in-person edition of the event, Lowrey and Greene demonstrated the same rigor and professionalism that define BIG's investment management approach. The team was humbled by the exceptional caliber of analysis on display and looks forward to seeing the competition's reach and prestige grow in the years ahead.
"Both Ethan and I were extremely impressed with the number of submissions we received this year, as well as the quality of each deck that was submitted. This was truly an amazing event!" — Pearce Lowrey, Portfolio Risk Manager, Bowden Investment Group
The Value of the Competition for the Bowden Investment Group
For the Bowden Investment Group, the Sustainable Horizons Stock Pitch Competition represented far more than an event; it was a capstone experience that touched every level of the organization. Members Pearce Lowrey and Ethan Greene led the end-to-end planning and execution of the competition, developing skills in event logistics, external communications, and professional coordination that complement their roles managing BIG's live portfolio.
The competition also provided BIG members at every level with meaningful exposure to the investment process from a new vantage point. Evaluating 28 pitch decks from some of the country's top student investment programs gave BIG analysts a rare opportunity to benchmark their own research and analytical frameworks against peers from institutions across the United States and the United Kingdom. Engaging with competing Student Managed Investment Funds (SMIFs) broadened BIG's professional network and opened the door to ongoing relationships with peer programs.
Critically, the event served as a powerful development opportunity for BIG's junior and incoming analysts. Observing live pitches from finalist teams and witnessing the standard of analysis required to compete at the national level gave newer members a concrete benchmark for the quality of work expected as they grow within the organization. For many, it was their first exposure to a formal investment presentation in a competitive, professional setting, an experience that will directly inform how they approach their own research within BIG's portfolio management process.
Sponsors and Supporters
The Bowden Investment Group extends sincere thanks to the sponsors who made this event possible: Appalachian State University, Karen Laws with Appalachian State Hickory Campus, the Walker College of Business, theDepartment of Finance, Banking, and Insurance, and Shawn Poole for his generous donation to the Bowden Investment Group, which helps make events like this possible.
About the Bowden Investment Group
The Bowden Investment Group is the student-managed investment fund at Appalachian State University's Walker College of Business. Overseeing a live portfolio valued at approximately $450,000, BIG provides students with hands-on experience in equity research, portfolio management, and investment analysis, giving them real-world exposure to capital markets and preparing them for careers in finance and related fields.
MEDIA CONTACT
Pearce Lowrey
Portfolio Risk Manager, Bowden Investment Group
Walker College of Business, Appalachian State University
Pearce Lowrey (left) and Ethan Green (right) of Bowden Investment Group
Pearce Lowrey (left) and Ethan Green (right) of Bowden Investment Group