Cottey to Add Stock Trading Lab and Esports Team

Cottey College received a generous donation from a P.E.O. group to add a stock trading lab to the campus academic spaces. Cottey will become the first women’s college to have a stock trading lab on its campus. The stock trading room will be ready for use in fall 2020.

“Cottey will create a stock trading lab in the lower level of Hinkhouse Center that will be utilized as a learning tool for business-management majors as well as a workshop space for students of any majors,” said Dr. Jann Weitzel, President of the College. “This lab will replicate a stock exchange trading room and will be utilized to provide students with exposure to investment theory and practice. It will feature state-of-the-art terminals and a LED ticker tape display. Through this program, students will learn the skills used by professionals in the money management business.”

“I have taught Personal Finance, BUS 103, for the past 15 years at Cottey and have always had students follow two individual stocks for a semester as well as follow the total stock market index; this is just one small part of the total personal finance curriculum,” said Dr. Gary Lunkenheimer, professor of business and economics. “I hope this space will excite students about investing in stocks and learning the risks of frequent trading of stocks.”

Additionally, the individual computer stations in the stock trading lab will allow Cottey to offer esports as a seventh athletic offering, also beginning in the fall.

“Esports teaches the skills of teamwork, communication, working under pressure, self-confidence, and decision-making, among others. We are excited to offer this new athletic option to current and future students,” added Dr. Weitzel.

Esports, also known as electronic sports, is a form of competition using video games. Teams compete online in tournaments and matches. According to the Next College Student Athlete website (ncsasports.org), 175 colleges and universities are members of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) and offer officially recognized varsity esports programs. Cottey, a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), will offer scholarships to esports student athletes as is the case with other student athletes.

Cottey College is an independent women’s college located in Nevada, Missouri, offering 13 baccalaureate degrees and six associate degree programs. The College is supported by the P.E.O. Sisterhood, an international women’s organization of approximately 230,000 members.