Oct. 10, 2013
Top prize at BP Trading Competition earns Haskayne students cash and bragging rights
Del Robostan, Taylor Ronsky, Jason Chen, Gordon Sick, and Zoe Anderson.
Haskayne School of Business students Taylor Ronsky and Jason Chen took first and second prize respectively at the annual BP Canada Trading Competition on campus Oct. 5, earning bragging rights and taking home $1,000 each.
Ronsky and Chen out-performed more than 50 University of Calgary student traders participating in head-to-head simulated trading competitions throughout the day in price discovery as well as crude oil, contango and natural gas futures
“Winning first place is a great feeling,” says Ronsky, who is pursuing his BComm as well as a BA in economics and a minor in Russian. “Going into the day I was just focused on having fun and learning as much as I could about energy trading from the BP employees.”
Ronsky and Chen were each awarded $1,000 by BP Canada, along with admission to BP University, an exclusive opportunity to learn, network and experience a day in the life as an energy trader, energy market analyst or marketer. They are also given priority consideration for tryouts for the Haskayne team competing at the 2014 Rotman International Trading Competition (RITC) in Toronto, the world’s largest trading competition.
From left: Zoe Anderson, Taylor Ronsky, Jason Chen, and Del Robostan.
The BP Canada Trading Competition is the only hands-on energy-trading event of its kind in western Canada. In addition to the competition, student traders are given the opportunity to network with BP traders and executives, fostering a dialogue about the significance of innovative thinking and entrepreneurial spirit in the world of energy trading.
“This is a great opportunity for students to learn something new,” says Chen. “The competition provides exposure to different types of trading, combined with the opportunity to network and learn from BP traders, it can certainly impact a student’s future career decisions.”
"The Haskayne School of Business plays a vital role in developing the energy industry leaders of the future,” says Del Robostan, BP Canada’s senior vice president, global oil. “BP Canada is proud to support the program and help shape students' knowledge, experience and understanding to ensure a strong future for the industry."
The competition was made possible through a partnership between the University of Calgary and BP Canada. The strategic partnership included a donation from BP Canada of Rotman Interactive Trading software for the N. Murray Edwards Trading and Finance Lab.