Drew University’s student-managed investment group, The Fund, has claimed first place in the Small Fund category at the 14th Annual Global Asset Management Education Forum hosted by Quinnipiac University in New York City.
This marks a historic moment, as it was The Fund’s first time entering the Global Portfolio Competition, and they brought home top honors.
Held April 3-4, the 2025 GAME Forum brought together over 1,600 students from more than 150 universities around the world for two days of investment insight, industry trends and networking.
Representing Drew were Joseph Rojek (‘25), Erik Rothman (‘27) and Eberardo Perez (‘27), who competed against peer institutions managing portfolios under $100,000.
Throughout the forum, students engaged with leading voices in finance, attending panels on macroeconomic policy, exploring emerging strategies in crypto mining and hearing firsthand from figures like Tom Keene, current co-host of “Bloomberg Surveillance.”
Drew’s student-managed portfolio, known as The Fund, currently oversees $56,000 in U.S. equities.
In 2024, the group achieved an impressive 27% return, outperforming the S&P 500’s 25% gain over the same period. This 2% edge underscores the strength of their investment strategy and market analysis.
“The Quinnipiac GAME Forum gave me the opportunity to hear insights from a number of industry professionals in the asset management and fixed income space including panels from economists where they provided their outlook on the market,” said Rothman. “Although these topics are discussed in my classes, this even gave a new breadth of knowledge that wouldn’t have been available in a typical classroom setting.”
In the Global Portfolio Competition, participants were evaluated based on their 2024 Sharpe Ratios and a poster presentation explaining their strategy and performance. The Sharpe Ratio measures how much excess return an investment generates for the amount of risk taken; higher ratios indicate better risk-adjusted performance.
Despite only being able to send three students due to budget constraints, The Fund rose to the top of their category. It was a testament to their collaboration, research and strategic thinking.
The win was more than a personal accomplishment—it was a moment of pride for the broader Drew community.
“This shows that even as a small university, we, too, are as smart as others,” said Perez. “It doesn’t matter about the school you attend but the effort and amount of education you’re willing to receive.”
For the students behind The Fund, the win also served as a reminder that opportunity is within reach for anyone willing to take initiative.
“For any student looking to get into the finance and investing world, our doors at The Fund are always open,” said Rojek. “Our only prerequisite is that you have the desire to learn, and that you know the effort you put in is what you will get out. In any case, it is important to always stay curious and never hesitate to take the first step.”
With their first competition now behind them, The Fund is proud to have represented Drew University and looks forward to growing its impact in the world of student-managed investing.
Benjamin Castro is a senior majoring in Marketing & Business.
