Office of Development

Tulane alum's scholarship fund has been rewarding talented individuals for a decade

Wall Street success combined with philanthropy led Timothy Sykes to establish the Timothy Sykes Daytrading Award for the Talented. 

Tulane alum Timothy Sykes conquers Wall Street. (Photo courtesy of Timothy Sykes)

October 17, 2012

Mary Sparacello
msparace@tulane.edu

A college philanthropy class was only part of what inspired Timothy Sykes ‘03 to establish a scholarship during his junior year at Tulane University. 

“It was the philanthropy class and my desire to encourage weird talents,” said Sykes, who made a fortune day trading from his college dorm room. “I wanted (the award) to be a source of encouragement.”

Named the Timothy Sykes Daytrading Award for the Talented, the fund recognizes exceptional individuals whose achievements and abilities exist outside traditional areas of academia.  

“I love the people that it’s helped,” Sykes said. “It’s been a decade now, and it’s helped a dozen students and encouraged them to continue developing their talents. I’ve had several reach out to me personally. One girl made wooden boats and taught inner city kids to do the same. She sent me a wooden cutting board she made from scratch that I still use to this day.” 

That girl was Susan Zaluski, the 2007 winner. Other awardees have been recognized for everything from bringing scientific accuracy to movie special effects to teaching karate to studying urban farming.  

Sykes is a former hedge fund manager who now advises others how to make it rich in the stock market via his website TimothySykes.com. His philanthropy is motivated by “knowing that I have an ability to inspire and encourage people who don’t fit into Box A or Box B. I like helping people explore the wide open and think of interesting ways to make a lot of money. I want people to be daring, adventurous, and open minded.”

Mary Sparacello is a writer in the Office of Development.