Potatoes and Python: How Warrington finance students earned 2nd place at UGA stock pitch competition
University of Florida Warrington College of Business finance students Nicolas Schull (MSF ’26), Robert Craig (MSF ’26), and Ari Fooksman (MSF ’26) placed second in the 11th annual University of Georgia Stock Pitch Competition, showcasing their investing expertise to industry professionals while competing against students from top universities.
Out of 109 team applications, a select 15 were chosen to compete in the event hosted by the Student Managed Investment Fund and the Terry College of Business – with the University of Florida being one of those prestigious few. Schull, Craig, and Fooksman, who serve on the executive board of the Gator Student Investment Fund, brought their leadership and investment experience to the competition.
In a high-stakes investment challenge, teams navigated a two-round competition that tested their financial acumen and presentation skills. The event began with preliminary rounds, where participants faced a 12-minute window to pitch their idea to a panel of UGA alumni judges. This was followed by a rigorous eight-minute question-and-answer session. Only three teams advanced to the final round, where contenders were given 15 minutes to pitch their investment strategy before the conference and an audience of corporate sponsors – including Invesco, the Peachtree Group, Gen Capital, and more. This was followed by another Q&A that would ultimately determine the winners.
“Our team pitched Lamb Weston (LW), a potato supplier,” said the competitors. “We had previously analyzed the company in our investment banking class as part of the MSF program. This early exposure gave us a strong understanding of its business model, allowing us to develop a more in-depth investment thesis and speak confidently about its potential.”
Over the course of a month, the team dedicated countless late nights to crafting a compelling investment thesis for Lamb Weston. They leveraged resources to conduct research across multiple sectors and developed a Python web scraper to aggregate USDA shipping data when traditional analysis tools fell short. The team’s multifaceted approach transformed information into an innovative model that distinguished their pitch from conventional market research.
“Our ability to quantify and challenge the market’s perception of the company gave us a strong edge,” the team said.
Judged by industry leaders, the team was awarded second place, along with $2,000 in prize money.
“It was a mix of relief and excitement. After weeks of all-nighters in graduate school, seeing our hard work pay off was incredibly rewarding,” said the team. “It was an honor to represent the University of Florida on such a competitive stage, standing alongside teams from top-tier schools, including Ivy League universities.”
The competition offered an invaluable opportunity to network with industry professionals, further cementing the students’ commitment to pursue careers in finance.
“Hearing from corporate leaders provided valuable insight into how investment banking skills transition into buy-side roles, particularly in how valuation, financial modeling, and investment theses come into play at asset management firms,” the team said. “It also reinforced the importance of alternative data and how deep research can uncover market mispricings.”
