LSU Team Earns Recognition in CFA Institute Research Challenge
April 27, 2026
Left-to-right: Collin Scamp-Gross, Prathamesh Barde, Tish O'Connor, Andrew Mickelson and Elizabeth Francis
BATON ROUGE - A team of LSU students gained real-world experience through one of the
world’s premier finance competitions.
Students in finance and mathematics at LSU won first place in the Louisiana sub-regional
of the CFA Institute Research Challenge, a global equity research competition that
brings together more than 1,100 university teams from over 100 countries.
Prathamesh Barde (BS Mathematics), Elizabeth Francis (BS Mathematics), Andrew Mickelson
(BS Finance) and Collin Scamp-Gross (BS Finance) wrote an in-depth equity analysis
of Plains All American Pipeline, an integrated midstream infrastructure company connecting
crude oil supply to key demand centers across the U.S. and Canada. Their work tested
not only technical financial skills and an understanding of the energy sector, but
also their ability to communicate complex insights in a professional setting.
Guided by Tish O’Connor, CFA, senior instructor in the LSU Department of Finance,
the team gained experience that mirrors expectations in the investment industry.
“The CFA Institute Research Challenge pushes students to sharpen their research, modeling,
valuation and communication skills,” said O’Connor. “The team spent hundreds of hours
researching and writing a comprehensive report on Plains All American Pipeline. After
presenting their conclusions to a panel of judges who challenged them with a rigorous
question-and-answer session, they ultimately won the Louisiana Challenge and advanced
to the next round. I am so proud of Andrew, Collin, Elizabeth and Prath.”
Beyond the competition, the team expanded their professional network through a CFA
Society of Louisiana Lunch & Learn, where executives from First Eagle shared insights
on the evolving alternatives landscape, private credit challenges and macroeconomic
impacts on real estate debt markets.
Through opportunities like the CFA Institute Research Challenge, LSU students are
not only developing technical expertise—they are building meaningful connections that
support their transition from classroom to career.
About the Department of Finance
The Department of Finance offers high-quality curricula to undergraduate and graduate students interested in corporate finance, asset management, real estate, insurance, banking, financial planning and business law. The department boasts internationally renowned research faculty in several areas, including derivatives, asset management, banking and spatial econometrics. The department's Securities Markets Analysis, Research, & Trading Lab utilizes the Bloomberg Professional service, the platform used by more than 300,000 leading business and financial professionals worldwide to make informed business decisions and a library of financial databases. Additionally, the department encourages, supports and conducts research in real estate by housing the nationally renowned Real Estate Research Institute. For more information, visit lsu.edu/business/finance or call 225-578-6291.