KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University students in the Tennessee Valley Authority's Investment Challenge Program produced a double-digit return on their stock portfolios for the federal corporation in 2014.

“The students exercised diligence and responsibility managing their investment portfolios,” said TVA Vice President and Treasurer Tammy Wilson. “They produced solid results for TVA and gained valuable experience for what we hope will be rewarding careers within TVA’s service territory.”

The return for the total program, involving student teams from 25 colleges and universities in the seven-state TVA service area, was 10.53 percent. Three teams exceeded the Standard & Poor’s average and will receive performance awards. The winners and their returns on investment are:

• Austin Peay State University, 22.67 percent
• University of Kentucky, 17.83 percent
• Alabama A&M University, 16.33 percent

TVA's Investment Challenge Program is a partnership between TVA and the universities that provides a unique hands-on experience in financial asset management for the students and performance-based awards the universities can use to enhance their business school resources.

Student teams actively manage real stock portfolios for TVA, designing long-term investment strategies and selecting investments under the guidance of faculty members and within investment guidelines established by TVA.

Thousands of students have participated in the program since it began in 1998, and a number of them have been hired by TVA and other employers in the region after graduation.

TVA initially provided $1.9 million from its long-term asset retirement funds to start the program. Through 2014, the program has grown to over $13 million.

The other participating universities are: Belmont University, Christian Brothers University, East Tennessee State University, Lipscomb University, Middle Tennessee State University, Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, Murray State University, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Tech University, Trevecca Nazarene University, Union University, University of Alabama at Huntsville, University of Memphis, University of Mississippi, University of North Alabama, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, University of Tennessee at Martin, Vanderbilt University, Western Carolina University and Western Kentucky University.

The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.