A former student at Garden International School has won one of the world’s top finance competitions.
A group of Thai undergraduate students, which included ex-GIS student Wimolnat Tanganurakpongsa, won the sixth CFA Institute Research Challenge global final, which was held in New York on April 11.
Winnie and the winning team had their name in lights – in the heart of New York!
Other team members included Panus Hongprapipat, head of the winning team from Thammasat University’s Business School, Jackrit Bumrungtrakul, Sorawit Patumraj and Kittikiat Tantivuttikiti.
Wimolnat, the only female in the team said, “The competition is the most famous and acceptable among students studying finance.” Wimolnat, or Winnie, sat her IB exams at GIS in May 2008.
The Thammasat team represented the Asia Pacific region. To take the award it had to beat three other finalists from around the world.
Although the other teams had more experience, the Thai team’s simple but effective presentation impressed judges. Each team had to pretend to be securities analysts. Winnie’s team looked at the stock of CP All Plc, which runs 7-Eleven stores, then compiled a research report, presentation and answered questions from a panel of judges.
They had to work even harder than others as, during the floods in Bangkok last year, they could only keep in touch via Skype.
Wimolnat and Sorawit worked on macro-economic analysis and world market analysis, as well as studying the industry.
Ex-GIS student Winnie, pictured eighth from left, helps ring the Nasdaq Stock Exchange closing bell in the US.
After becoming national champions, the group won a regional competition in March held in Hong Kong before heading to the final in New York. About 3,000 students from 650 universities in more than 50 countries took part. The Thai winners were handed US$10,000, a trophy, and helped ring the Nasdaq Stock Market closing bell, a job normally reserved for celebrities and important officials. The Stock Exchange of Thailand also gave the team certificates to honour their achievements.
