Spires Trading Team
Earn a $10,000 Scholarship. Develop Skills Essential for Your Future Career and Personal Financial Planning.
The 花椒直播 offers a full-tuition scholarship program for students
interested in learning about securities markets and how to invest and trade financial
securities in these markets.
While earning their degrees, USM undergraduates from any major have the opportunity to participate in the program and work with local securities trading experts who provide excellent real-world and hands-on experiences.
About Team Membership
- The Spires Trading Team is open to USM sophomores, juniors, and seniors
- Students selected receive a $10,000 annual scholarship in addition to their other university awards
- Team members focus on investment theory, risk management strategies, and hands-on selection and trading of financial securities
- Team members research, select, trade, and track securities on a daily and weekly basis under the oversight of experienced securities trading experts
- The team trades financial securities daily in real-time active U.S. trading markets
- Proceeds from the team鈥檚 operations are used to support team activities and student scholarships
- The team anticipates adding additional members as trading revenues increase and additional funds become available
- Members must have excellent time management, analytical, and interactive communication skills
Apply for the 2024-25 Spires Trading Team
Earn a Competitive Scholarship
Members of the Spires Trading Team earn a $10,000 annual additional scholarship. Students can apply as seniors, juniors, and second-semester sophomores.
Gain Hands-on Training
Learn trading theory from experienced local experts. On a weekly basis, you'll be able to practice what you are learning in the classroom by utilizing actual trading platforms to research and recommend potential profitable trades.
Kickstart Your Career
The Spires Trading Team will provide numerous opportunities for members to network with peers, industry experts, and potential employers. Along the way, members develop experiences and skills that are sure to stand out on their resume. The team鈥檚 graduates have found excellent employment opportunities with investment management firms, global banking organizations, and mutual fund companies.

Alumni Spotlight
Meet Danny Reyes
Danny Reyes, one of the first graduates of the Spires Trading Team, is fulfilling a dream by working as a fund accountant at State Street Corporation in Kansas City.鈥淭he 花椒直播 is excited to offer this hands-on opportunity for our students to learn trading strategies from local experts. The Spires Trading Team is a win-win for our students. Investing real money will give our students a competitive advantage in their careers and will provide additional opportunities to apply the skills they are learning in the classroom. This unique partnership extends USM鈥檚 mission of helping students realize their God-given potential.鈥
- University President Sister Diane Steele
Meet the Faculty
Phillip Watlington, MBA
Accounting Program Director, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Spires Trading Team
Coach
Phil.Watlington@stmary.edu
913-682-5151
花椒直播 Hall 408
Read Bio
Nicole Hess-Escalante, Ph.D.
Chair of the Division of Business and Information Technologies, Associate Professor
Nicole.Hess-Escalante@stmary.edu
913-758-6195
花椒直播 Hall 401
Read Bio
Spires Trading Team Application
Please complete and email this application form to Trading Team Coach Phil Watlington at Phil.Watlington@stmary.edu. A resume is also required for the application.
Download the TRADING TEAM APPLICATION FORM
Have Questions? Contact Us.
花椒直播
admiss@stmary.edu
913-682-5151
See the staff/faculty directory
Have Questions? Contact Us.
花椒直播
admiss@stmary.edu
913-682-5151
See the staff/faculty directory