Undergraduate and graduate students from Cornell University, Columbia University, Bard College, Shenandoah University, University of Michigan, Felix Houphouet-Boigny University, Hampton University, Virginia Wesleyan University, Central Washington University, Smith College, University of Southern California, University of Minnesota, and the University of California Berkeley Haas to compete in the IEN Student Corporate Engagement Challenge.

BOSTON, MA—JAN. 30, 2024 — Students teams from 13 universities across the U.S. have entered the Intentional Endowments Network‘s (IEN) Student Corporate Engagement Challenge. Teams of undergraduate and graduate students will showcase their skills in sustainable investing and shareholder engagement. 

IEN’s Student Corporate Engagement Challenge asks students to pitch an investment in a publicly traded company and include in that recommendation a shareholder engagement strategy focused on addressing inequality and the climate crisis — systemic risks that threaten a healthy society, and in turn, healthy portfolio returns. 

“The IEN Student Corporate Engagement Challenge provided us with the valuable opportunity to develop a comprehensive understanding of investment analysis and the investor engagement process. Getting hands on experience has demystified the process and empowered us to engage with investments beyond the numbers,” said Steph Motta, a member of last year’s winning team in the Graduate Category, Presidio Graduate School. 

Over the next three months, these student teams will learn from experts in the field from NGOs, socially responsible investing firms, and philanthropic organizations. Their research, presentations, resolutions, and no-action defenses will be judged by leaders in the field to establish winners in both the undergraduate and graduate division.

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The Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) is a peer learning network of colleges, universities, and other mission-driven institutional investors working together to achieve their risk and return objectives through investment actions that create a thriving, sustainable economy. IEN has more than 200 network members including endowments, asset managers, investment consultants, nonprofit partners, and individuals.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Bella Alvarez, Program Associate, [email protected]