The Panthers Investment Club, is a club ten years in the making, has finally been born here at Plymouth State College. Dr. Couvillion, of the business department and advisor for the club, worked with students in the past, but was never able to make the club available to students. Four students were able to complete that process this year and form one of the newest clubs on campus. The four members are President Peaches Kennally, Vice-President Kate Labagh, Treasurer Shaun Rolphe and Secretary Brian Waschel.
When asked why the club didn’t take off sooner, Couvillion answered, “Well in the spring, seniors get busy and there is a lot of paper work and tax issues involved in the process as well, so we weren’t able to pull it off.” He continued, saying, “the most recent effort in getting the club underway was made by two students a couple years ago, James Montiero and Cherokee Russell. They worked hard, but weren’t able to get it underway.”
This new group of students worked hard at starting the club and were rewarded for their efforts. Two of the officers are graduating this year, which leaves two left to keep the club running next year. Couvillion hopes that this club sparks the interests of the students of Plymouth State so there will be lots of student participation next year. The club applied for an Alumni Association Grant, totaling one thousand dollars. The money from the grant will be their primary source of income for the Panther Investment Club’s ad investments in the stock market. “With this kind of money, I anticipate that it will be enough to buy three different common stocks,” states Couvillion.
The club will be using the money to place stocks. The profits made from the stocks will be put into a scholarship fund that will be given to a PSC student once a year. At this point in time there are no set requirements to meet to be eligible for the scholarship, so be sure to keep an ear as to what they are when they are established, because you could be eligible.
“The new club is having some trouble,” explains Couvillion. “The big problem is that I need this money to be tax exempt so no one has to pay for the tax on the interest, dividends and capital gains,” He continued, “One person who has been a big help for the advancement of the club is Bill Crangle, Vice-President of the Financial Management Office. He has, according to Couvillion, made it possible for the club to use the University System’s tax ID number to make their investments. Within a year he hopes the profits made from this will be able to be put into a scholarship in the name of the Alumni Association and the Panthers Investment Club to service the students of Plymouth.
When asked why she decided to join the Panthers Investment Club, President Peaches Kennally, responded, “I feel that a club like this is needed at this college and maybe by starting this here, UNH and Keene State College will also decide that this is a good program and start one up at their colleges as well.” Peaches received a letter on April 16 from President Wharton that approved the budget of the club. This letter is a good sign for the club and helped move them forward in their process of getting the club underway.
The club is opened to anyone who would like to join and they will be having a meeting in May for anyone who is attending Plymouth State College. The official date has not been set because they are still busily getting everything prepared, but look in the HUB and the online issue of the Clock, at www.clockonline.com, for more information about the date of the meeting. Couvillion would like the club to meet at least once a month if not twice a month next year. If you are interested in stocks and would like to be part of a good club, be sure to attend the meeting, they would love to see you there.