2011-2012

News Release

REF NO.: 42

SUBJECT: Buy low, sell high. Trading floor comes to Memorial University’s Faculty of Business Administration

DATE: October 14, 2011

The Faculty of Business Administration is bringing Bay Street to the classroom with a new financial and research trading lab.
The faculty will unveil the White Trading Lab on the first floor of the Business Administration building on Memorial’s St. John’s campus Monday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m.
The state-of-the-art trading lab will offer students and faculty a unique experiential teaching and learning opportunity by allowing users to interact with the global financial community in a real-time setting. Students will have access to global market information including equity, fixed income, commodity, foreign exchange and all derivatives information, research and analytics.
The lab has been made possible by a generous donation from Brad White, the founder, CEO and CIO of Toronto-based EdgeHill Partners and a 1991 Memorial commerce alumnus. Josh Quinton, an equity derivatives specialist at Bloomberg in New York and a 2007 Memorial commerce alumnus, helped negotiate a donation from Bloomberg which included operating software and several pieces of equipment.
Mr. White says the construction of the trading lab is the first phase in a long-term vision and plan. 
“The lab is not just to support the portfolio management program,” he said. “It’s also to attract students and help employ graduates globally in the investment field. The new lab will bring fuel to a new local industry of portfolio management.”
 “We are sincerely grateful to Mr. White for this generous donation,” said Dr. Wilfred Zerbe, dean, Faculty of Business Administration. “Our alumni are known for having a dedication to the school and for wanting to give back and Mr. White is no exception.”
Dr. Zerbe also noted the importance of having this particular type of lab available to students.
“With the growth of technology propelling today’s financial markets, there is a challenge to prepare our students with a hands-on learning experience that is not always available in the traditional finance classroom,” he said. “The educational experience offered by the lab will equip our students for the real world of business and financial trading, long before they begin their career.”
The official opening of the White Trading Lab will be marked by a special ceremony on Monday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. in the Faculty of Business Administration atrium. Both Mr. White and Mr. Quinton will be recognized at the ceremony and will address guests.

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