NEW IN CLARKSVILLE: DRAKES •109 LARRY W. CARROLL GOVS FUND

EDUCATION

Larry W. Carroll Govs Fund

In today’s competitive market, it’s not only what you learn in the classroom, but also real-world application. The creation of the Larry W. Carroll Govs Fund at the College of Business at Austin Peay State University is a great example of that.

The Govs Fund is a student-managed investment fund that was made possible by a generous contribution from Larry W. Carroll. Carroll is president and CEO of Carroll Financial Associates, Inc., based in North Carolina, where his firm manages over $4.7 billion in advisory and brokerage assets. He is also an alumnus of the College of Business.

The fund was designed to help students gain real-world experience managing mutual funds. “It is so important for students to learn outside of their comfort zones and to make decisions while coordinating efforts with a team,” APSU Finance professor, Dr. Michael Phillips said. He has served as an advisor to students since the inception of the fund. “Students are making real decisions and reporting real numbers for investment policy compliance purposes.” establishment of a career path students may not otherwise have access,” student, Riley-Marie Perkins, stated.

Students submit compliance reports, a key indicator of success with the fund. The report is a culmination of every decision made during the semester. The process encourages students to retain the knowledge and gain valuable insight of each step along the way. Reporting to the APSU Foundation is also required as they are part of the university’s investment portfolio. Students prepare presentations for sponsors and peer groups to review nationally. These presentations give them an opportunity to benchmark their knowledge and learn best practices.

“The opportunity to research the economy, the market, and businesses to make real investment decisions as a part of the Govs Fund provided me with experience that enhances the classroom. Working with the team to brief the results of our decisions to the executive board gave us a realistic experience you would normally only get working in the field,” shared recent graduate, Shawn Myers.

The fund provides leadership opportunities and impactful resume experience while establishing a firm foundation on investment literacy.

“I am more confident entering a career path knowing the skills developed during this experience are expected by employers and make me a valuable, competitive candidate for any position I choose to pursue. In addition, this opportunity places students in conversations with potential employers--resulting in the The fund has experienced great initial success and continuously improving processes to identify new enriching experiences.

With the return of students to campus in the fall, students and faculty are optimistic that in-person learning experiences will return and the Govs Fund will continue to grow.

For more information about the fund and other College of Business initiatives, visit apsu.edu/business.