Students from five high schools across the nation are headed to Washington after taking top honors in the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Foundation's Eighth Annual Capitol Hill Challenge, which educates students on investing and financial literacy.
More than 6,500 students from more than 200 schools competed in the foundation's Stock Market Game, which challenges teams of students with investing a hypothetical $100,000 for a 14-week period. The five teams with the best portfolio returns win a trip to Washington to meet with members of Congress. The team from Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Ill., had the best-performing portfolio, valued at $171,640 after the investment period ended May 13.
Melanie Mortimer, executive director of the SIFMA Foundation, Washington, said in an interview that the contest puts mathematical and financial concepts in a real-world context. One group, for example, learned how the earthquake in Japan in March affected the value of Coca-Cola Co. stock in its portfolio, she said.
“Teaching kids the long-term view through investing is so valuable,” she said.
