Finance and economics major Brian McKnight from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh has been named by Financial Executives International of Northeastern Wisconsin (FEI) as one of five area academic achievement award winners.

McKnight also will be awarded the Allan W. Gerow Memorial Scholarship and the FEI Scholarship at the College of Business Undergraduate Honors and Award banquet next week.

Financial Executives International (FEI) is the premier association exclusively for financial professionals, with a mission to advance the success of senior-level financial executives, their organizations and the profession. There are 68 chapters nationwide with the Northeastern Wisconsin chapter one of the largest with approximately 215 members.

McKnight is a senior from Oshkosh double majoring in finance and economics. He plans to graduate in December 2018 and pursue a career as a buy-side equity analyst while working to earn Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

While on campus McKnight gained valuable investment experience through his participation in the 2017-2018 CFA Institute Research Challenge and his participation in the Student-Managed Endowment Fund (SMEF) program. This is his first year serving as a portfolio manager for the SMEF program.

During summer 2018, McKnight plans to leverage his finance knowledge as a junior equity analyst for Tocqueville Asset Management LP in New York City. Outside of the classroom, McKnight is a captain on the University’s cross country and track and field teams.

McKnight said he chose UW Oshkosh because he felt the College of Business was the best combination of a leading business school with hands-on and personalized learning experiences.

“The University’s small class sizes and emphasis on professional development have been instrumental in furthering my knowledge while preparing for career opportunities upon graduation. These opportunities have allowed me to differentiate myself from students at other schools,” he said. “Another factor that contributed to my decision was the ability to compete on UW Oshkosh’s cross country and track teams. Running is very important to me, so I was thankful for the opportunity to compete in a sport that I am very passionate about while earning my degree.”

SMEF program director Stephen Huffman says that McKnight’s success is due to his willingness to participate in all academic and non-academic ventures alike.

“Brian applies the same competitive drive and hard work that he displays in college athletics to learning about investments and portfolio management. Brian’s contributions during the CFA Institute’s Investment Research Challenge helped him to secure his internship in New York. I look forward to watching his continued development as an investment professional,” Huffman said.

McKnight will be given special recognition at FEI’s Northeast Wisconsin’s April Chapter Meeting on April 18 at Bridgewood Hotel and Conference Center in Neenah. In addition to the $1,000 award, McKnight will receive a digital subscription to FEI Daily, a certificate of academic excellence from FEI National President and CEO Andrej Suskavcevic, and a standing invitation to attend any/all 2018-2019 FEI of Northeastern Wisconsin chapter meetings and events.

For over a decade, FEI of Northeastern Wisconsin has supported the FEI Academic Achievement Awards, a program developed to recognize and reward demonstrated excellence in finance and accounting students in colleges throughout the area.

Learn more:

• College of Business
• Student Managed Endowment Fund
• Financial Executives International
• Students advance in CFA Challenge
• Apply for Scholarships