KNOXVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Valley Authority announced Friday that its Investment Challenge Program (ICP) outperformed the S&P 500 in 2025, posting a return of 18.90%, compared to the S&P 500’s 17.88%; a difference of 1.02%.
Of the 27 participating ICP universities and colleges, 15 schools beat the S&P 500 Total Return Index, earning performance awards for their institutions. One school achieved returns exceeding 14% above the index.
“The Investment Challenge Program is more than an investment initiative – it’s a launchpad for future finance leaders,” said Brian Child, TVA Treasurer and Chief Risk Officer. “By managing real portfolios and learning from industry professionals, students gain the confidence, skills, and vision to thrive in today’s competitive financial world. Year after year, these teams prove that with dedication and teamwork, they can outperform the market and achieve extraordinary results. Their success is a testament to the power of education and opportunity.”
ICP is a premier workforce development initiative that allows university teams to actively manage stock portfolios under faculty guidance and TVA oversight. Since inception, students have collectively outperformed the S&P 500’s annual total return of 8.93% by 0.39%, generating an excess cumulative return of 103%. Through 2025, the program has grown to nearly $16 million, primarily through positive investment returns, and has awarded $1.6 million to participating schools.
On April 9, TVA hosted more than 250 students in Nashville to celebrate the program’s success. The top-performing schools in 2025 include:
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Other participating universities include: Carson Newman University, Middle Tennessee State University, Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, Murray State University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of North Alabama, University of Memphis, University of Mississippi, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, University of Tennessee at Martin, Western Kentucky University.
For more information about ICP, visit www.tvainvestmentchallenge.com
Media Release/Scott Fiedler/TVA Public Relations
