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Capitol Hill Challenge Awards Ceremony 2012

Five winning teams won a trip to Washington, D.C. in June 2012 to meet their Members of Congress, tour the nation’s Capitol, and see first-hand how our national economic policies are developed.

Of particular note, this is the first year a district has won in two consecutive years, and also that two of our winning teams have come from the same district!
It is thrilling that so many students are taking the time to develop a better understanding of the global economy, while strengthening their personal financial skills, and improving their knowledge of math, economics, and business. SIFMA salutes each and every student who completed the competition nationwide.

Read the press release: SIFMA Congratulates All Participants of the SIFMA Foundation’s 9th Annual Stock Market Game™- Capitol Hill Challenge Top Five High Schools Win Trip to Washington, DC – May 15, 2012  and SIFMA’s Pennsylvania and Wall June 25th blog post: Winning Capitol Hill Challenge Students Visit DC

Kenneth E. Bentsen, Executive Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy at SIFMA, noted the record participation in this year’s Challenge. “We’re pleased with the progress that has been made on our end increasing not only the number of teams participating – 3,000 teams this year involving 13,000 students, but also we are now linked up with more than 430 members of Congress… We won’t stop until we get to the full 535 members and the five delegates.”

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Congratulations to the Winning Teams!

1st Place – Lewisburg High School (PA)  
Students from Lewisburg High School took first place after producing a portfolio value of $285,443.03 and a return of over 185 percent. Participating team members include: Brett Clark and Daniel Cole. They were instructed by Michael Creeger and represented Senator Patrick Toomey (R).

2nd Place – Neuqua Valley High School (IL)
Students from Neuqua Valley High School placed second after producing a portfolio value of $180,549.48. Participating team members include: Kunal Kochar, Shamil Shafi, Shane Shafi, and Brad Stimple. They were instructed by Kevin Geers and represented Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R). This is the second year in a row that a team from Neuqua Valley High School has placed in the top five; last year a team from Neuqua Valley High School won the competition.

“I’ve been working several years to make financial literacy a top priority for both the classroom and here on Capitol Hill,” stated Congresswoman Biggert at the awards ceremony. “When it comes to day-to-day financial decisions, nothing protects consumers and their financial security more effectively than arming them, even as young students, with a sound foundation in financial literacy. And that’s why the SIFMA Stock Market Game is so important, and it’s more than a game, but it makes it fun. It’s a method of teaching that works and provides high school students with the tools that they need to become well-informed investors in the real world.”

3rd Place – West Ranch High School (CA)
Students from West Ranch High School placed third after producing a portfolio value of $168,764.26. Participating team members include: Kyle Fernando, David Ha Lim, Do ‘Marcus’ Kwak, Mayu Shiroishi, and Tanner Williams. They were instructed by Linda Cox and represented Congressman Howard McKeon (R).

4th Place – Troy High School (MI)
Students from Troy High School placed fourth after producing a portfolio value of $160,950.04. Participating team members include: Jae Cheong, Jinxin Dam, Angel Li, and Sherry Li. They were instructed by Toni Isaac and represented Congressman Gary Peters (D).

“Out of 13,000 students, all across America, (there are) five winning teams – TWO of the five winning teams are from my district. I take great pride in that,” stated Congressman Peters at the awards ceremony. “I hope you share that knowledge and share that interest with your classmates so they too understand the financial markets going forward. SIFMA understands that, and their members of the organization understand that and realize, as responsible corporate citizens, they would want to help empower folks here in the United States to make the best decisions we can as consumers and investors.”

5th Place – International Academy (MI)
Students from International Academy placed fifth after producing a portfolio value of $154,140.25. Participating team members include: Yoav Helsman, John Payne, and Adrian Wyland. They were instructed by Steven Eschrich and represented Senator Carl Levin (D).

A Note of Thanks

The SIFMA Foundation wishes to acknowledge the following individuals and firms for their generous contributions to the 2012 Stock Market Game – Capitol Hill Challenge:

Richard Brueckner, Chair of the SIFMA Foundation and Chief of Staff, BNY Mellon
Debbi Meeks, Vice President of Government Affairs, Goldman Sachs
Warren Wright, First Vice President, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
The members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and their staff
The SIFMA Foundation state partners
And the over 13,000 students, teachers, parents and administrators for their participation in the 2012 Capitol Hill Challenge

Video

  • Video

    Capitol Hill Challenge 2012 Awards Ceremony

    Five winning teams won a trip to Washington, D.C. in June 2012 to meet their Members of Congress, tour the nation's Capitol, and see first-hand how our national economic policies are developed.

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