community news, Peninsula Connects Giant Leaps CEE Fund

Giant Leaps in One Semester for Student Run Nonprofit

What do you get when you cross intelligent and ambitious college students with the desire to enhance their education and give back to the community? A student run nonprofit organization! The Captain’s Educational Enrichment (CEE) Fund is a 501(c)(3) that was established during the 2011-12 academic year by Christopher Newport University Students in order to gain real-life, hands on experience working with finance and investments as well as business development and nonprofit management.

The CEE Fund had set a goal to have $25,000 by the end of the fall semester. As their target date rapidly approached, they had approximately $15,000 worth of donations which were fully invested in two mutual funds with American Funds with 1.7% gains. Jose Chavez, the Chief Operations Officer, explains that they do not want to be too aggressive because they have a lot on the line right now, and he wasn’t just referring to their education and opportunity to continue working for the organization. Ultimately, the CEE Fund will use earnings from their investments to award scholarships to CNU students. They are very anxious to give out their first scholarship and are not willing to risk the earnings they have already made until they have secured more capital.

To promote their organization, the students gave a presentation to the Luter Board of Advisors, President Paul Trible, and other campus and community leaders. Their efforts paid off and they received the additional $10,000 needed to meet their goal. Now they will be able to start diversifying, investing in approximately 5 different companies. As funds grow, they will continue to diversify. The future strategic plan is to invest $1500-2000 per stock and fully develop their own mutual fund.

While anticipation of awarding the first scholarship continues to build, CNU students can take advantage of a 7 week educational program which includes courses on fundamental principles in accounting, finance, and business management. Those seeking to become a voting member of the CEE Fund are required to participate in the educational program and pass a test; however, any student can attend these free courses. The courses are taught by CNU professors, William Donaldson, Lecturer in Strategic Planning and Operations Management, Niazur Rahim, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Finance, and Davit Adut, Assistant Professor of Accounting. The program provides the opportunity for students to raise questions and have open conversations regarding related topics. The CEE Fund believes that any student, regardless as to his/her major, would benefit from a strong foundation in business and finance and wants to provide the opportunity for students to gain this knowledge. Also, since most students do not take finance courses until their junior year, the program allows students to get a head start on their educational goals."

"I was very impressed

with the leadership

displayed by the CEE Fund students and by their strong

and persuasive presentation.

I am very pleased that

they have been able to raise more than $25,000 that will permit our students to more

fully engage in financial

markets and learn very important lessons."

-President Paul S. Trible, Jr.

Christopher Newport University

"When you invest yourself in an organization, it is pure gain. To put it in finance terms, my cost basis is zero and my return is 100%"

-Jose Chavez, Chief Operations Officer

CNU Senior, Political Science Major

The founding students of the organization had initially recruited the assistance of professors William Donaldson and Niazur Rahim. Donaldson provided support to the students in creating the CEE Fund’s structure and executive board while Rahim gave advice regarding the students’ research and decisions on investments. Both professors have a continued role as faculty advisors. The result is a well-structured organization with 4 departments: Operations, Accounting, Development, and Investments. Donations aren’t the only growth the organization has had over the past semester; it tripled in size and now has 36 members working diligently towards the success of the organization. The CEE Fund is also looking forward to putting together an educational conference that will be open to students, faculty and the public. Guest speakers will be able to provide basic principles of the business world that can relate to any profession. It will certainly be one event to look out for.

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