Francis Gerodias, center, is flanked by (l-r) Dr. Patrick Ryan, Dean of the School of Business and Computing, Dr. Melva M. Diamante, President of SFU, Gen. Billy Villareal, District Governor of the Rotary International District 3830, President Pabs Abayani of the Rotary Club of Makati-Salcedo and Mr. Lito Colona, R.I. 3830 District Secretary.

The winner in the first run of the Southville Global Education Network-Rotary Club of Makati-Salcedo (SGEN-RCMS) Stock Market Challenge was announced at the Bistro Lima on October 5, 2011. Francis Alfredo Gerodias, a second year Information Technology student of the School of Business and Computing was declared as the Brent Torrance Value Investor Awardee besting over 20 other students of the SGEN schools, garnering a positive year-to-date Return on Investment (ROI) despite the global economic downturn.

The SGEN-RCMS Stock Market Challenge is a competition among students of SGEN member schools who take part in the Stocks Investment Program, one of the several investment projects under the multi-million-peso investment and entrepreneurship grant awarded by RCMS to SGEN. The 7-month stock trading challenge, which started on February 28, 2011 and ended on September 30, 2011, was handled by the Capital Market Learning Center. The ranking was based on the year-to-date ROI of participating SGEN students. ROI was computed by summing-up earnings and/or losses from selling transactions and dividends received.

During the awarding ceremony, Retired General Ismael Villareal, District Governor of Rotary International District 3830, lauded Gerodias for outperforming his competitors and gaining in a bear market. Gerodias registered gains even when the stock market was on a decline towards the end of the stock challenge, a complete turnaround of events that swept away all the gains of other participants. In attendance during the event were the officers of Rotary International District 3830, officers and members of the RCMS headed by President Pabs Abayari, and different officials, staff, and faculty of SGEN member schools.

The RCMS renewed the one-million-peso investment and entrepreneurship grant to SGEN for the continuation of the various programs aimed at advancing a strong investment and entrepreneurial culture among its students.