During the fall 2025 CFA Society Pittsburgh Collegiate Stock Picker Challenge, IUP’s Brayden Landherr placed among the Top 10 for individual student returns! Seventy-four students signed up across seven regional universities, including Penn State Behrend, Saint Vincent, La Roche, Penn State, IUP, Gannon, and Saint Francis. The challenge ran from October 15 to December 15. The top 10 finishers earned a $50 gift card.
The Stock Picker Challenge “gives students the opportunity to pick their own portfolio of stocks and compete against their fellow peers for the best total return.” This activity is designed to give a large group of students an opportunity to participate in a CFA event with minimal time commitment. IUP students were encouraged to participate by their finance instructors and advisors.
Brayden has been an active, dedicated member of the IUP Student Managed Investment Portfolio organization, serving as portfolio manager, where he oversaw fund performance and helped to establish a scholarship through the IUP Foundation that assisted SMIP students with study materials and fees to pursue the FINRA SIE exam. He also helped launch SMIP’s first-ever alumni newsletter with Allison Johnson (chief marketing officer) to strengthen alumni engagement and keep graduates connected to the club.
Beyond SMIP, Brayden was a student-athlete and four-year starting long snapper on the IUP football team, including the 2022 conference championship season, and served as vice president of the Student Finance Association, helping to coordinate alumni guest speakers for networking events.
He currently volunteers on an advisory board for Fairview High School, where he is helping students build their own student-run investment fund and teaching the core principles of portfolio management and investing.
Learn more information about this CFA event.