Howard Tech And Finance Majors Win $1M Goldman Sachs Prize

Five Howard students have won a $1 million grant for their school as winenrs of the Goldman Sachs Fifth Annual Market Madness Competition. Keyla Arrechea, Jordan Atkins, Aaron Harrison, Kadijah Mansaray, and Jada Rabun were participants in the 2024–2025 cohort of Goldman Sachs’ HBCU Possibilities Program.

The semester-long program offers HBCU students industry experience, professional development, and networking opportunities inside the investment banking sector. A major component of the program is a case competition that challenges students to pitch and defend strategic business solutions for real-world companies.

Howard team wins the competition

This year, participants were tasked with devising a revenue growth strategy for Amer Sports, a multinational sporting equipment company operating in 42 countries.

The Howard team proposed selling adaptive wear for people with disabilities through Amer’s Arc’teryx line whilst launching it in Dick’s Sporting Goods store in due time for the 2026 Paralympics games. They were the only team to propose a product launch.

The team made it through two rounds of virtual competitions, where they traveled to New York to present their recommendations in front of Goldman representatives. “I think it was our drive that really carried us, because there wasn’t an answer we didn’t have. We went out and found it instead of just giving up or pivoting,” Harrison said.

The students’ academic backgrounds reflect a blend of disciplines: three are finance majors, one studies computer information systems, and another is pursuing a degree in computer engineering.

Most have already secured internships and job offers from leading tech and finance companies including Nvidia, Deloitte, and Blackstone Wealth Management. United by a shared vision, each of them plans to reinvest their knowledge and resources into uplifting their communities.

Goldman Sachs’ commitment to HBCUs

In 2021, Goldman Sachs announced a five-year $25 million commitment to HBCUs as part of its plan to further racial equity and create a more inclusive economy.

“It’s a smart, long-term investment for the firm, it helps us better serve our clients, and over time we believe it contributes to a more inclusive and dynamic economy and society,” David Solomon, Chairman and CEO said.

However, in February, the company announced that it had removed a policy intended to promote diversity on the boards of companies that it takes public. The policy, introduced in 2020, stated that Goldman would only enlist a company’s starting public offering if it had at least one board member from a diverse background.

Image: Howard University