The University of Illinois Springfield College of Business and Management celebrated the opening of the Sean and Taryn Grant/Landmark Auto Trading Lab on Feb. 26 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The lab features 12 Bloomberg Terminals that support hands-on learning for UIS students pursuing careers in finance, data analytics and related fields.

The terminals give students the ability to use real-time data to research markets, analyze investments, perform modeling and valuation and build data analytics skills using a professional platform.

“The new lab will help students develop in-demand skills and graduate better prepared to compete in today’s job market,” said Somnath Bhattacharya, dean of the UIS College of Business and Management. “We’re grateful to Sean and Taryn Grant for helping to make access to these terminals possible for our students.”

Students will also be able to earn Bloomberg certifications, which signal job readiness to employers and help them stand out in the hiring process.

The terminals will support the university’s Student Managed Investment Fund, which manages more than $50,000, by enabling market analysis and informed investment decisions and reinforcing UIS’ focus on career-ready education.

Sean Grant, CEO and owner of Landmark Automotive Group, and Taryn Grant, executive director of the Grant Conservatory, said the donation was inspired by their daughter’s college experience using Bloomberg Terminals and a desire to create similar opportunities for students in the Springfield area.

“When I saw how much this technology helped my daughter, I thought about what it could mean for students at UIS,” Sean Grant said. “Our family and our business have been part of this community for more than 50 years, and supporting UIS is a way to help students gain skills that can keep talent here and help the region grow.”

The $150,000 gift reflects the couple’s belief in investing in students and showing them that the community supports their success.

“This lab is about investing in students and their futures,” Taryn Grant said. “When students see that the community supports their education, it builds confidence and pride in the school. Being part of that growth is exciting, and we see this as just the beginning.”