Invest in a bright future
The Hawkinson Institute of Business Finance is Tippie’s undergraduate investment banking program. The institute was created to prepare high-potential Tippie students for demanding, high-profile positions in banking, sales and trading, and related sectors. The program provides an exceptional launching pad for future careers in private equity, hedge funds, venture investing, and other asset management arenas as well as corporate finance and strategy roles at established and startup companies.
Each year, approximately 20 top undergraduate students are chosen to be Hawkinson Scholars. They are selected on the basis of academic performance, leadership, professional potential, and interpersonal skills. We work with these students to develop the industry knowledge, technical skills, network, and internship experience that allows them to compete successfully with top students from around the nation for coveted jobs in investment banking.
“Hawkinson opened a ton—a ton—of doors for me. It put me in touch with the people who could help me make things happen. Without Hawkinson, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now.”
The Hawkinson value proposition
100% of Hawkinson Scholars graduate with full-time job offers. More importantly, at least 95% of Hawkinson third-year students who go through the investment banking recruitment process land banking internships after their third year—the key entry point for careers in the industry. The Hawkinson program helps these already strong students realize their professional goals by:
- Creating a cohesive team of ambitious, talented, highly motivated students with interest in the industry
- Providing an extensive alumni network across the financial services sector
- Developing soft skills to enable students to shine both in high-pressure interview settings and on the job
- Facilitating access to opportunities at top bulge bracket and middle market banks
- Supplementing Krause Fund coursework with presentations on M&A, capital raising, and other topics by bankers in a closed-class format
Apply to the Hawkinson Institute
Applications from students planning to graduate in December 2026 or May 2027 will be due on March 20, 2024.
Information session for applicants: Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 8:45 p.m. in W401 PBB.
(Zoom option: https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/97587995363)
What we look for in a Hawkinson applicant
- Any major, with an interest in finance, markets, economics, or accounting
- 3.5 GPA and above
- Involvement in campus and community activities
- Unique interests, experiences, or skills
- Good interpersonal skills
Application process
Click the button below to download a PDF application. Qualified applicants will be selected for interviews.
Recent placements
Class of 2024
Once again, 100% of students seeking investment banking internships received and accepted offers.
- Anna Bauer—Barclays
- Anthony Hong—Bank of America
- Brett Crandell—Evercore
- Cael Woltmann—BDT & Company
- Crede Wernke—JP Morgan
- David Carpenter—Bank of America
- Eli Dail—Baird
- Isabella Smith—William Blair
- Karishma Patel—Morgan Stanley
- Kira Price—Goldman Sachs
- Nolan Pattison—Lincoln International
- Reed Fehseke—William Blair
- Simon Loftsgard—Lincoln International
- Sydney Hearn—Deutsche Bank
- Tony Lyon—Key Bank
- Tyler Cooper—Lincoln International
How we help recruiters
We make it easy for firms to find the very best Iowa students.
- We provide recruiters with a prescreened set of resumes from top business students
- Firms can utilize the recruiting process (on-campus, phone screens, video interviews, etc.) that works best for them
- For firms that choose to do on-campus interviews, we help coordinate logistics
- The weekly Hawkinson class provides a forum for bankers to interact with students while providing value-added industry presentations
- We strive to know our bank clients so we can help match firms with the right students
Alumni network
As an alumnus, there are many ways to stay involved with the Hawkinson Institute, from speaking to a class of eager, inquisitive students, to recruiting said students and giving back financially. Please contact us to discuss how you can get involved.
Speaker series
The Friday afternoon Hawkinson Seminar provides an opportunity for students to learn from seasoned professionals who work in banking, private equity, and the financial markets every day. They also provide a venue for bankers to meet prospective hires.
Recruiting
Hawkinson and Iowa alumni are the linchpin of the Hawkinson program, playing an integral role in the recruitment and hiring of our students. If you’re active in banking, asset management, corporate finance, or related areas and would like to help a current Hawkeye follow in your footsteps, we would love to discuss recruiting opportunities with you.
Support the Hawkinson Institute
The Hawkinson Institute is funded solely by endowed gifts and annual donations. The generosity of our alumni enables us to provide the cutting-edge programming and educational opportunities that keep our students competitive nationally. Your support will help to launch a career of which most students can only dream.
Hawkinson history
The institute is named for H. John Hawkinson, a 1936 graduate of the University of Iowa's College of Business. Hawkinson enjoyed a 40+ year career in the financial services industry, ultimately serving as president of Kemper Financial Services, then one of the country’s largest investment management firms. Hawkinson also served as a director of more than a dozen public corporations in the energy and industrial sectors.
The institute benefits today from the generous support of Keith Cook and Sharon Kress, former colleagues of Hawkinson, as well as members of the Hawkinson family.
Contact
Brian Richman
Professor of Practice and Director of Hawkinson Institute of Business Finance
brian-richman@uiowa.edu