YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - An investment fund club is providing an opportunity for college students to build skills needed for future jobs in finance.

The club at Youngstown State University is set apart from others when it comes to making money for others.

At YSU's Williamson College of Business Administration student investment fund club students get hands-on experience learning how to analyze securities, invest, and manage an equity portfolio.

"In the student investment fund if someone pitches an idea, it's the entire groups vote on if they want to pass it or not. People have an opportunity to explain why," said Emily Phillips, an accounting major.

Phillips will be president of the group next year.

YSU's student investment club is different from most universities, since they get to manage real money.

The YSU Foundation provided the initial $250,000.

"They have been funded since 2008. It started out with $250,000 then increments of $50,000 in, right now it's 2.2 million dollars. That's how well they have done," said Diane Playforth, Senior Business Manager YSU Foundation.

The group of around 20 members, gave their presentation on how they grew the investments to the YSU Foundation Board of Trustees Tuesday afternoon.

The President of Williamson College of Business Student Investment Fund Jeffrey Senediak said, "Our fund grew 30% last year and compared to the S&P 500 which grew 18%. We beat it by the most in our club's history last year."

WFMJ news asked what's their secret.

Senediak replied, "Our secret is our investment philosophy, being investors, not speculators. We're not just looking at the prices of the stocks, we are looking in the underlying business, the fundamentals, and so that fundamental approach has allowed us to outperform,"

Tom Cavalier, Chairman of the Investment Committee, and YSU Foundation Board Member brought the idea forward of having a program where students have the opportunity to manage some real money.

Cavalier emphasized, "They came in second out of 148 universities in regard to their performance of their group portfolios so there is a lot to be proud of."

Dr. Peter Chen, associate professor of finance, serves as the club's advisor.