Post by title1parent on Jun 16, 2011 5:36:12 GMT -5
napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/schools/5961366-418/neuqua-valley-team-wins-national-stock-market-challenge.html
Neuqua Valley team wins national stock market challenge
By Jane Donahue For The Sun June 15, 2011
A group of Neuqua Valley High School teens has stock market advice you can bank on.
In the eighth annual Security Industry and Financial Markets Association “Stock Market Game — Capitol Hill Challenge,” the Naperville team of Kunal Kochar, Shamil Shafi, Shane Shafi and Brad Stimple beat out more than 1,600 teams to earn first place in the nationwide competition.
Neuqua business teacher and Finance Club adviser Kevin Geers said this was not only the first time the south Naperville school has won the challenge, it’s the first time they ever competed.
Geers said throughout the 14-week competition, the group of young men impressed him with their dedication and work ethic.
“Early on in the challenge, I saw a group of students very disappointed about a 20 percent portfolio loss work together to create and modify different strategies and turn their portfolio into a more than 50 percent gain,” Geers said. “Whether it is success or failure with the portfolio values and investment choices, this challenge has brought market exposure, interest and lifelong lessons to many students at the high school level.”
Since 2004, the Capitol Hill Challenge has provided high school students stock market experience in a risk-free environment. The competition uses the curriculum-based Stock Market Game, an online market simulation endorsed by the New York Stock Exchange. More than 15,000 students in schools across the country have engaged in this special version of the Stock Market Game program with U.S. representatives and senators.
U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert, R-Hindsale, is one of them. The co-chairwoman of the House Financial and Economic Literacy Caucus said the “wizards on Wall Street could learn a thing or two from our team at Neuqua Valley.
“These kids shattered expectations in a difficult market, and they did it while learning the real world math and finance skills that are critical to their economic futures. I applaud their teacher, Mr. Geers, for his hard work bringing personal finance into the classroom, and the team for applying those lessons with such amazing success. This is a great game, and a great learning experience.”
Neuqua Valley High School senior Kunal Kuchar agrees.
“Because of the competition, we were able to really learn a lot and go in-depth into the stock market,” said the 16-year-old. “We were able to implement our ideas, see how the strategies succeeded or failed, and make changes to make them successful. We are all really enthusiastic about business and this is a great honor for all of us.”
The accomplishment earned the team a trip to Washington, D.C., where they will meet with Biggert, enjoy a tour of the nation’s capitol and see first-hand how national economic policies are developed.
For more information about The Stock Market Game, visit www.stockmarketgame.org.
Neuqua Valley team wins national stock market challenge
By Jane Donahue For The Sun June 15, 2011
A group of Neuqua Valley High School teens has stock market advice you can bank on.
In the eighth annual Security Industry and Financial Markets Association “Stock Market Game — Capitol Hill Challenge,” the Naperville team of Kunal Kochar, Shamil Shafi, Shane Shafi and Brad Stimple beat out more than 1,600 teams to earn first place in the nationwide competition.
Neuqua business teacher and Finance Club adviser Kevin Geers said this was not only the first time the south Naperville school has won the challenge, it’s the first time they ever competed.
Geers said throughout the 14-week competition, the group of young men impressed him with their dedication and work ethic.
“Early on in the challenge, I saw a group of students very disappointed about a 20 percent portfolio loss work together to create and modify different strategies and turn their portfolio into a more than 50 percent gain,” Geers said. “Whether it is success or failure with the portfolio values and investment choices, this challenge has brought market exposure, interest and lifelong lessons to many students at the high school level.”
Since 2004, the Capitol Hill Challenge has provided high school students stock market experience in a risk-free environment. The competition uses the curriculum-based Stock Market Game, an online market simulation endorsed by the New York Stock Exchange. More than 15,000 students in schools across the country have engaged in this special version of the Stock Market Game program with U.S. representatives and senators.
U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert, R-Hindsale, is one of them. The co-chairwoman of the House Financial and Economic Literacy Caucus said the “wizards on Wall Street could learn a thing or two from our team at Neuqua Valley.
“These kids shattered expectations in a difficult market, and they did it while learning the real world math and finance skills that are critical to their economic futures. I applaud their teacher, Mr. Geers, for his hard work bringing personal finance into the classroom, and the team for applying those lessons with such amazing success. This is a great game, and a great learning experience.”
Neuqua Valley High School senior Kunal Kuchar agrees.
“Because of the competition, we were able to really learn a lot and go in-depth into the stock market,” said the 16-year-old. “We were able to implement our ideas, see how the strategies succeeded or failed, and make changes to make them successful. We are all really enthusiastic about business and this is a great honor for all of us.”
The accomplishment earned the team a trip to Washington, D.C., where they will meet with Biggert, enjoy a tour of the nation’s capitol and see first-hand how national economic policies are developed.
For more information about The Stock Market Game, visit www.stockmarketgame.org.