The SUNY Oswego Investment Club recently took a historic trip to New York City that included the honor of ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

Chief Executive Officer Karsen DePasquale, a senior majoring in finance, and the club have been working hard and making connections with Oswego alumni, all of which led to this special trip. 

In particular, DePasquale reached out to Jon Herrick, the chief product officer of the New York Stock Exchange and a 2000 alumnus. Herrick came to Oswego for a panel presentation previously and, after hearing of the club’s accomplishments, set them up to ring the closing bell on April 10, DePasquale said.

The club was able to see the many different functions of the stock exchange, along with the different people who work there. 

“We went to the center of the exchange and met the market makers and broker dealers,” which included “Peter Tuchman, who's the face of Wall Street, over 1.1 million followers on Instagram and other platforms,” DePasquale said. “This connection led to him hosting one of his iconic master classes with us recently at our last meeting.” 

The experience is the latest accomplishment for the club, which in late 2025 grew its managed endowment fund to $1 million –- a success story that also helps fund student scholarships.

Herrick is part of a robust Oswego alumni network who also were responsible for starting the fund that students continue to invest and grow.

In 2011, New York businessman Gordon A. Lenz, a 1958 graduate, donated $100,000 to seed the newly formed student-run Investment Club so that Oswego students could learn to manage real money in the stock market. Lenz also donated funds to purchase a Bloomberg Terminal that is housed within the College of Business and Entrepreneurship’s Gordon A. Lenz Center for Finance, Insurance and Risk Management in Rich Hall. 

A few years later, Wall Street professionals and alumni couple Doreen Mochrie (Class of 1985) and Christopher Tuohy (Class of 1981), added another $100,000 in seed money for the club to manage.  

Behind-the-scenes views

For the visit, the students had the opportunity to tour the Wells Fargo location on the trading floor and catch other behind-the-scenes views.

“We got to see where they host their earnings on CNBC live on the trading floor where the CFO announces it,’ DePasquale said. “We also got to see how the office space was built for the traders on the floor –- from circadian rhythm lighting to cooling and heating vents next to every trader.”

None of this would have been possible without alumni support and the reputation the Investment Club continues to earn.

“This kind of trip reflects our credibility as a club,” DePasquale said. “We hit $1 million in assets under management, now we're getting invited to the NYSE to ring the closing bell. These things don't happen by chance. Our hard work and dedication as a whole has established this credibility. It just goes to show that our work we put in hasn't gone unnoticed and we are starting to see some recognition for our achievements.” 

He also described how their time in the Investment Club has helped participants prepare for the trip and feel at home with top professionals. 

“We speak the same language as everyone,” DePasquale said. “Whether it may be trading or investing, our experience and skills we have learned along the way, the club has paved our way from some good conversations and connections.”

DePasquale also emphasized the importance of what the Investment Club teaches. 

“This single most important thing is we teach financial literacy, education and freedom,” DePasquale said. “Understanding these is pivotal after graduation and starting your career.” 

–- Written by Nina Ottesen of the Class of 2026