Boston Chapter of Financial Executives International Honors Two RWU Finance Majors

BOSTON – In recognition of their excellence as business majors among students from colleges and universities around New England, two Roger Williams University students received honors from the Boston chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI).

FEI selected David Ouellette, a junior finance major, as the recipient of its annual $1,500 scholarship and recognized Jacob Hallgren, a senior finance major, as an “outstanding senior.” Business students from around the region face formidable competition for these honors, which are given to highly talented juniors and seniors with excellent academic performance, extracurricular and volunteer activities.

The two students from the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business will be honored at FEI’s annual Academic Awards Dinner on Sept. 23. Along with the honor, the students get the opportunity to network with the region’s leading financial executives and access to FEI’s professional development resources for managers.

Here, get to know about the two RWU honorees.

David Ouellette

Major: Finance with a minor in psychology
Class year: Junior
Involvement:Delta Sigma Pi member, and recently invited to join Beta Gamma Sigma. Student Fund Manager in CAFE (Center for Advanced Financial Education at RWU), where he works with a small team of student investors to execute trades and manage real-dollar portfolios. Member of the Financial Management Association, a club at RWU. Math tutor for the Tutoring Center on campus. Resident Assistant in Bayside.

“GSB has provided the groundwork for my entire future. First, it has provided me with the necessary information I need to be successful in the field of finance, but it has also allowed me to meet people and make connections that I otherwise never would have been able to," said Ouellette. "These relationships are formed from classes to long nights in the library studying and doing homework with people that will be my closest friends throughout the rest of my life. I look forward to getting out into the world and starting my life, but I will enjoy my upcoming senior year. As my senior friends now unfortunately understand the finish line comes quickly, especially when it shows up early.”

Jacob Hallgren

Major: Finance with minors in psychology and economics
Class year: Senior
Involvement:Managing Director of CAFE, where he oversees two real-dollar mutual funds and manages a team of associate directors and student fund managers, reporting to Professor Michael Melton. Paraplanner at Ameriprise Financial since 2018, where he prepares for client meetings and ensures asset allocations meet the clients’ goals; he holds a Series 7 license as a registered financial representative enabling him to make trades professionally.
Post-graduation plan:To become a full Financial Advisor, firm not decided as of yet.

“The Gabelli School gave me the knowledge of what areas I am interested in and where I would like to extend my studies," Hallgren said. "This helped me launch my career as an intern with Ameriprise as a sophomore, leading me to get licensed and move into a more critical role there.”