UALR economics and finance students Kate Hendrix of Benton, Nathalia Garay of Bogota, Colombia, and Brooke Dodd of Hot Springs are heading to Omaha, Neb., on Saturday, April 30, to attend the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders meeting and hear CEO Warren Buffett, considered one of the most successful investors in the world.

This is the fifth year of a partnership between UALR’s College of Business and Delta Trust and Bank that allows three top economics and finance students from UALR a unique opportunity to participate in an independent study that culminates with attending the stockholders meeting and hearing Buffett’s address.

Following completion of an investment analysis course, the three students applied and were interviewed to participate in the intense study under the direction of Finance Professor Larry Holland.

Delta Trust executives have provided a comprehensive overview of financial services for UALR students. Discussions include trust administration, estate planning, portfolio management, financial planning, insurance, investments, trading, employee benefits, wealth transfer, and lending and credit analysis.

Along with watching related interviews, the students are required to read books about Buffett’s investment strategies and Berkshire Hathaway’s annual reports.

“It has been a tremendous learning experience, and I believe that it has allowed me to obtain a much better understanding of investments,” said Hendrix, a senior economics major. “We have been able to network with successful professionals in the business community and have also been able to see those business and financial principles that we have studied actually being applied in a business setting.”

Garay, a general finance major, said the experience will be beneficial for her future career.

“I have been making a deep and intense study about the investment philosophy of the most successful investor in history. His philosophy will be beneficial for me because even though I can’t do the same type of investments he does, I can apply his principles in my future decisions,” Garay said.

Dodd, a senior finance major, called her selection a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“It’s just such a rare opportunity ─ a finance class that lets you break away from textbook finance and study practical finance from one of the best in the field,” Dodd said.