At an early age I learned a lot about politics and business from my auntie who I considered to be my mentor or mentoress. She was once a soldier and spent a lot of time in Saudi Arabia. I participated in family debates when I was little and read a lot of her old financial books. I didn't understand much of what I was reading back then but I guess some how that information continued to float around in my head as I got older.

I previously posted a story regarding the scandal over West Virginia University President Michael Garrison, who granted an unearned Executive MBA degree to the governor's daughter. Garrison approved the degree being granted to Heather Bresch, daughter of West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin.

Here are a few gems that may rise above atough year for healthcare and outperform the S&P 500.

Covance - NYSE: CVD
CVS - NYSE: CVS
Teva - NYSE: TEVA

Let me know what you think.

RTM

The University of New Hampshire has received its largest - by 2.5 times - donation ever. The gift comes from alumnus and business leader Peter T. Paul who will be donating $25 million to earn the naming rights of the new business school. The amount is truly astounding for a middle tier state school and represents 10% of the school's entire endowment according to the UNH president. The previous top donation also came from Paul who offered the school $10 million in an earlier gift. Paul runs Paul Financial, a mortgage lender and financial services provider located in California.

Marquette University has announced that it has chosen the first female leader of its business school. Linda M. Salchenberger, currently the associate dean of academics in Northwestern University's School of Continuing Studies will take over on August 15. The dean position is entitled the Keyes Dean, as the chair is supported by the multimillion dollar donation of the Keyes family. It is unclear as to how much the position pay, but it is understand to be above $250,000.

 Today CIBC global markets are predicting $7 oil by 2012. 

There is somewhat of a controversy brewing at Olin Business School on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. Professor Tzachi Zach was recently denied tenure in his sixth year at Olin teaching Accounting. The main reason for the decline was the lack of published research in Professor Zach's body of work. Zach had hoped for a three year extension before a final decision on his tenure decision was rendered.

Special simulcast for you from my Five Percent Stocks blog.

Natural Gas E&P Trend Here To Stay

"I have been very bullish on Natural Gas since the beginning of 2008. The commodity has rallied through the $10 mark. This morning, Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) noted that it now sees summer nat gas to come in over $11 and may be as high as $13 in 2009..."

I love this. You don't often hear deans come right out and say they're going after a ranking, but we all know they are. Not so though for new University at Albany business school dean Don Siegel. Siegel's other goals include expanding entrepreneurial opportunities including incubator space and more start-up opportunities for student businesses. He is walking into a great situation as the New York State legislature has just passed funding for the new business school building at Albany.

Such were the words of Jo-Anne Shibles in an announcement that the Santa Clara University will be cutting its undergraduate business school enrollment by 33 percent. Current students can still declare a business major or minor, but only through tax day.