A group of Linkhorne Middle School economics students placed third in the state out of 2,698 teams, including high school teams, in the Virginia Stock Market Game. Students and their advisor, Brenda Murphy, are invited to attend an awards program to be held on May 9 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. The first- and second-place teams were both teams of high school students.
The group also placed second in the region out of 497 teams.
The group includes:
- Matthew Wisniewski
- Charlie Lollis
- Tosha Davis
- Justin Phillips
- Logan Wilgus
- Jackson Riffee
A second group of LMS students also placed third in the region. That group includes:
- Nate Colvin
- T’Khira Browley
- Alex Miller
- Michaela Smith
- Tyler Summers
- Amanda Yi
The Stock Market Game program is a learning experience for students in second semester economics. The Stock Market Game gives students the chance to invest a hypothetical $100,000 in an online portfolio. Students think they are playing a game, but they are learning economic and financial concepts they will use for the rest of their lives.
The economic system of the US is very difficult for students to comprehend. By participating in The Stock Market Game, students experience firsthand what drives our economy and students better understand the concepts found on the 8th grade SOL test. The purpose of the program is to provide students with an authentic experience to learn the function of the American stock market. Starting with a virtual cash account of $100,000, students strive to create the best-performing portfolio using a live trading simulation. They work together in teams, practicing leadership, organization, negotiation, and cooperation as they compete for the top spot. The setup is engaging, and the learning is a natural part of the experience. Students use real internet research, such as the NYSE, and news updates, making the simulation an even better mirror of the real marketplace. While the competition creates student excitement, the educational experience delivers the biggest impact. Students who participate in the The Stock Market Game program learn more than investing. The program also teaches and reinforces the essential skills and concepts of critical thinking, decision-making, cooperation and communication, Independent research, and saving and investing. As they progress, they learn core academic concepts and skills that can help them succeed in the classroom and in life.