The opening bell rang on Monday, Oct. 24, at the state-of-the-art Trading Center. (Now renamed Soin Trading Center) The new center will significantly advance business education at the Raj Soin College of Business by providing students with the knowledge base for leading positions in asset management, investment banking and corporate finance.

University officials, government leaders and representatives from the business community attended the ceremony in Rike Hall. The bell ringing that traditionally opens trading at the New York Stock Exchange echoed throughout the $600,000 facility, which replicates an actual stock market trading environment.

The trading center features an actual stock ticker tape, computer software programs from leading investment information providers like Bloomberg, Ibbotson and Baseline, and real-time coverage of financial markets from CNBC, CNN and others.

"This facility provides our students with business investment resources that exceed those at most major universities in America," said Raj Soin College of Business Dean Berkwood Farmer. "The Trading Center will greatly enhance the business education of our students and significantly expand their employment prospects following graduation. We commend Raj Soin, MTC Technologies and all our other business contributors for their vision and financial support of this project."

Students will be trained for positions with brokerage firms, investment management firms and banks. The center will provide timely information from such major stock markets as New York City, London, Frankfurt and Tokyo to expose students to the international business marketplace.

Principal funding for the center involves a leadership gift from MTC Technologies and a substantial matching gift from Dayton entrepreneur, philanthropist and WSU business college supporter Raj Soin. A major gift from MPC Computers funded 28 personal computers with dual, flat-screen monitors that provide the students with electronic response systems for immediate feedback on issues raised by the professors in several business classes that will use the center.

Approximately 600 WSU students will use the facility annually. It will also be used by the area business community for seminars and executive training programs and by area educators for continuing education.

For more information, contact Marbna Akhbari, professor and chair of the Department of Finance and Financial Services and director of the center at marlena.akhbari@wright.edu or 775-3671.