About Atkins

Atkins Investment Group Overview and History

The Atkins Investment Group is a student run organization at the Whittemore School of Business and Economics that provides a unique opportunity for students to learn about the world of investing. The group is currently comprised of roughly forty student analysts who strive to establish and maintain a successful investment portfolio as a management team. The students manage an investment portfolio called The Wildcat Fund which was originally established in 1995 through the generosity of the University of New Hampshire’s first MBA class; The MBA Class of 1968. Nine years later, alumnus Gerald F. Atkins donated $40,000 to the Wildcat Fund increasing the amount the students can invest to approximately $50,000. All of the buying, selling, and administrative decisions of The Wildcat Fund are made entirely by students of the group.

Renamed in the fall of 2004, the Atkins Investment Group (AIG) is open to all students in all majors at UNH. After a formal application and interview process, selected students become research analysts and are assigned to a particular sector of the market. Within each sector is a sector leader who acts as the manager of his/her group. Their job is to supervise the sector and act as a resource for students within the group. There are other positions of leadership such as President, Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Treasurer, Secretary, and Director of Public Relations. These positions are open to group members who meet certain requirements and are eager and willing to dedicating themselves to the development of the organization. Together, these students form the Executive Board of the Atkins Investment Group and serve as leaders and informational resources for student members to learn more about the group and investing.

The Atkins Investment Group is overseen and aided by a Board of Directors that consists of University of New Hampshire Alumni who are now working in respective positions within the world of investments. The combination of their financial experience and expertise helps students make more educated decisions when it comes to selecting investments. AIG Members are to research various investment possibilities within their sector and then make buy, sell, or hold recommendations to the group. After making a formal presentation justifying their position, the entire group votes on what decision should be made. A simple majority vote is needed to execute a decision.The members of the Atkins Investment Group are very thankful and proud to have such a distinguished and accomplished Board of Directors. 

Overall, the Atkins Investment Group provides a rare and unique opportunity for students to learn about the world of investing. Members have recognized this opportunity and have taken full advantage of it. The superior returns of The Wildcat Fund show that students at the Whittemore School of Business have the necessary skills and abilities to succeed in today's business world. Get involved with our organization and make an impact!

Group History

The Atkins Investment Group (the Group), which is part of the Whittemore School’s Atkins Strategic Investment Center, was established in the spring of 2004. The Group was set up to manage an investment fund: The Wildcat Fund. It was designed with the intentions of providing students with the opportunity to establish and maintain an investment portfolio management organization. The specific objectives of the Group were to

1) Enhance student knowledge and awareness of various investment issues,
2) Provide students with practical investing and portfolio management experience,
3) Enhance students’ research and presentation skills,
4) Provide students the opportunity to hold positions of leadership, and
5) Provide students the opportunities to network with finance professionals.

Since 1996, the Whittemore School has had a similar fund, the Wildcat MBA Fund, which was created from nearly $10,000 in donations by the UNH MBA Class of 1968 on the occasion of its 25th reunion two years before. Currently, the Group is responsible for both funds. The Wildcat MBA Fund has been managed primarily by MBA students.

In 2004-05, the Group began its operations with an endowment of $40,000 made available from Reginald French Atkins’ donation to the Whittemore School of Business and Economics (this does not include the Wildcat MBA Fund). The first Atkins Investment Group class had an enrollment of 28 students. Much of their time was initially spend on formulating policies and procedures for managing the Wildcat Fund. It was in the second half of the year when the group actually proceeded to invest their funds into individual equities. It was at this time that Professors Ahmad Etebari & Stephen Ciccone joined together to act as advisors to the Group. The Atkins Investment Group’s aim is to establish a superior track record and become recognized as an elite student-run organization as well as an important educational tool for the students within the Whittemore School community.