Honors Students Blooming in the Bloomberg Markets Lab

Finance. Marketing. Human Development. Mathematics. Secondary Education. Sociology. Criminology. Biochemistry. Computer Science. Engineering.

At first glance, these majors may seem unrelated, but they have one thing in common. They are all majors of Honors students who are enjoying the benefits of becoming Bloomberg certified at Merrimack’s own Markets Lab, a certification that is uncommon among college students of any major. “Bloomberg terminals are really rare in many schools, and Merrimack is so fortunate to have multiple terminals,” says Molly Malinowski ‘17, the Academic Officer of the Honors Student Council, as well as the liaison between the Honors Program and the Markets Lab. Malinowski, with the support of the HSC, worked with Professor Mary Papazian, Director of the Markets Lab, to give an information session to over 60 Honors Program students and their friends about the benefits of becoming Bloomberg certified. So far, about 30 Honors students are Bloomberg certified, and that number that is expected to grow over the spring semester. Matthew Chirokas ‘15 works as a Lab Assistant in the Markets Lab. His role, he says, “…can encompass [helping a student] finding a specific graph, locating the function of a terminal, setting up their account, or preparing/taking their certifications.” He adds that, since the information session, the lab has “…frequently been used by Honors students…who have taken advantage of this phenomenal resource.” Dedicated in September 2013, the Markets lab houses 15 Bloomberg terminals that allow students to keep up with stocks, companies, and trades, as well as perform other economic and financial research. Students become certified in four categories: fixed income, equities, foreign exchange, and commodities.