An idea brought back by students from a business conference has manifested itself on the campus of Missouri Western State University.

The Koenig Simmons Trading Center, named after the Western alums who donated money to the project, features a bank of computers running trading software and a large television running a stock ticker.

The center, in the Steven L. Craig School of Business in Popplewell Hall, is flanked by a glass wall where students can watch what goes on inside.

The idea came to several students at an investment strategy in education conference in 2008. The students, who have since graduated, put together a presentation, which went over well with investors, including Steve Koenig and Jeremy Simmons.

“The six of us (students) sat down with the professors and talked about the idea seriously,” said Larry Motely, Jr., who now owns a business in Cameron, Mo. “A year later we’ve actually accomplished getting cash donations and the school behind it.”

Dr. Sangkyoo Kang, assistant professor of finance at Western, began leading classes in the trading room this semester. The investment allowed for the return of the school’s portfolio management class, which had been discontinued a couple years ago.

“They are in a better position when they get out,” Dr. Kang said of the students who run through simulations.

Sophomore Lindsey Frederick sat in front of one of the computer monitors Friday following a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce. She took a class on the stock market last year and hoped the trading room would help her put a face to a name. Asked if she could decipher the data on the two monitors in front of her, she shrugged.

“Not yet, but I will figure it out,” she said.

Jimmy Myers can be reached at jimmym@npgco.com