Huntington launches student-managed investment fund
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Huntington University has received a gift from the estate of a longtime Huntington business owner to establish an investment fund in which business students can obtain real-world financial management experience.
The gift from the estate of J.T. Brennan will establish the Forester Acorn Fund, named after the mascot of the liberal arts Christian university. The value of the gift was undisclosed, but a spokesperson referred to it as “seed” money.
“We are thankful for J.T. Brennan remembering the HU Department of Business in his estate,” Ann McPherren, chair of the business department, said in a university news release. “The Forester Acorn Fund will provide business students with the real-world opportunity to actively invest and manage funds in the market.”
As students learn to invest and manage the fund, any earnings will be reinvested into the fund for growth, the spokesperson said. If any significant surpluses are earned, they will be used for business student opportunities.
Brock Zehr, associate professor of business, echoed the appreciation.
“I am excited about the experiential learning opportunity this fund will provide for our students,” Zehr said. “They will gain experience in investment research, portfolio management, and investment decision-making. I am hopeful it will further career exploration in the financial services industry.”
J.T. Brennan, who passed away in 2023, is described as a friend of the university who attended university lectures. He ran his family business, A-OK Brennan Plumbing and Heating, in Huntington.
Huntington University offers more than 70 academic programs, including a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance. Based in Huntington County about 30 miles southwest of Fort Wayne, it also has locations in Fort Wayne and Peoria, Arizona.