Mercer University Celebrates Third Victory at CFA Institute Southern Classic Research Challenge
MACON, Ga. — Mercer University has secured a remarkable win at the 2025 CFA Institute Southern Classic Research Challenge, marking the institution’s third triumph in six years. The event gathered aspiring investment professionals from universities across Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama.
The winning Mercer team, consisting of Stetson-Hatcher School of Business seniors Shannon Dougherty, Alina A. Noorani, and Luke E. Hand, along with junior Dylan J. Mitchell, previously claimed the title in 2021 and 2022. They had placed second in the years preceding their back-to-back victories.
A Global Competition
The CFA Institute Research Challenges are internationally recognized competitions that assess university students’ analytic and presentation skills through the analysis of a publicly traded company. This year, teams worked on a case study involving Carter’s, a leading children’s apparel brand.
Guiding the students was faculty mentor Dr. Geoffrey Ngene, who has been involved with the program since 2014, alongside industry mentor Aaron Foresman from Crawford Investment Counsel. Dr. Ngene expressed, ‘Winning the competition for the third time after two runner-up placements demonstrates the passion and competitive spirit of the Bears.’
Building Future Leaders
The 17th Annual CFA Institute Southern Classic Research Challenge took place on March 1 at Kennesaw State University. This prestigious event emphasizes the importance of experiential learning, critical thinking, and analytical decision-making.
Having started in 2002 with just five teams from New York, the CFA Institute Research Challenge has expanded to engage thousands of students across over 1,000 universities in more than 75 countries.
About CFA Institute
The CFA Institute is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing education and setting high standards for ethics and professionalism within the global investment industry.
Recognizing Mercer University’s Commitment
Mercer’s School of Business, established in 1984 and named after notable alumni, is recognized by major publications for its commitment to providing high-quality business education, with a special focus on minority and women students. The school has achieved accreditation from the prestigious AACSB, a mark of excellence shared by only a small fraction of business schools worldwide.
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