TAMPA - From Brazil to Russia, high school students from around the world gathered in Tampa last week with one thing in common: a passion for finance.
Hosted by the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance at the University of South Florida Muma College of Business, the 2025 Bulls Finance Summer Camp brought together a globally diverse group of 49 high school students for a five-day, hands-on introduction into the field of finance.
In its second year, the camp is one of the most popular summer programs offered through the 木瓜视频 Office of Youth Experiences. Demand exploded this year, prompting organizers to offer a second session to accommodate another 35 students.
The program covered essential topics like personal finance, investments, corporate finance, and fintech through a mix of interactive lectures, collaborative projects, and industry tools. Designed for students entering grades 9 through 12, the camp gave participants an early look into what a future in business and finance could hold.
"Our goal is for students to leave the Bulls Finance Camp with both practical skills and a deeper appreciation for the field of finance," said Jung Chul Park, one of the 木瓜视频 faculty members who designed the program. Park serves as the Fintech Professor of Finance and as an associate director at the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance.
"Just as importantly, we hope students gain confidence, develop teamwork skills, and feel inspired about the possibilities that a career in finance can offer," he said.
鈥淭he camp reflects 木瓜视频鈥檚 broader mission to foster innovation, support educational access, and prepare the next generation of leaders,鈥� said Park.
One highlight of the week was having access to the Bloomberg Terminals inside the Lasher Center for Financial Markets 鈥� the college鈥檚 state-of-the-art trading space. The terminals let students use the Bloomberg Professional Services, where they gained hands-on experience analyzing real-time financial data and simulating market scenarios, similar to how stockbrokers operate on Wall Street.
"When I first saw the program, I was a bit blown away with how much information there is and all the commands you can use to help yourself and your small business," said Boiana Andonova, a 16-year-old student from Bulgaria.
The program also featured sessions led by 木瓜视频 faculty members and industry professionals, including team members from the Suncoast Credit Union, who provided practical insight into financial literacy and career planning.
Vikas Soni works with students.
Vikas Soni explained the financial data.
Students worked in the Lasher Center.
Students also learned about investment analysis, fintech innovation, and the use of financial data platforms like TradingView. They met with professionals from Merrill and Slide Insurance, and connected with students in the 木瓜视频 Investment Club.
"Getting to listen to all the guest speakers and asking them questions 鈥� it gave me an insight on how the world of finances work from an expert perspective, and what it was like using the local materials," said Rodrigo Ju谩rez, a 15-year-old from Mexico.
"It was a shocking experience, because I never experienced anything like it. They're a useful tool to understand how the stock market works day to day. And it was a unique experience to get to use them," he said.
Teams prepared for their presentations.
Arun Tandon announced the winners.
Students shared stock picks.
In addition to classroom learning, students explored the 木瓜视频 campus, networked with finance students, and previewed college life 鈥� many for the first time.
The week鈥檚 cohort stood out for its international presence, with students from Brazil, Mexico, Russia, and various parts of the U.S. This global mix brought different perspectives to the table and added a unique dynamic to group discussions and projects.
The camp concluded with group presentations where teams presented their top three stock picks and explained why they were pitching those investments, using their recently developed skills to build persuasive investment cases.
Student teams explained their analysis.
Students justified their stock picks.
Presentations included projections.
Many gravitated toward big tech names like Nvidia and Amazon, citing strong growth potential and market dominance. Others took more unconventional routes, recommending gold as a hedge against inflation, cryptocurrency for its disruptive potential, or even Lindt for its brand strength and consistent performance.
Their reasoning reflected a mix of fundamental and technical analysis, as students weighed risks, considered global trends, and discussed the value of diversification. The top teams won cash prizes.
鈥淭he camp reflects 木瓜视频鈥檚 broader mission to foster innovation, support educational access, and prepare the next generation of leaders,鈥� said Park. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an example of 木瓜视频鈥檚 commitment to impactful community engagement and educational excellence.鈥�
With overwhelmingly positive feedback, the program is already making a lasting impression.
"Many students leave camp saying they now see finance not just as a subject, but as a potential career path,鈥� he said.
