For Immediate Release
November 15, 2017
For More Information
Jennifer Connolly
(413) 747-7670
[email protected]
Springfield, MA—On Thursday, November 9, 2017 Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts turned the MassMutual Center’s Exhibition Hall into Wall Street for the largest one-day student stock market event in the United States!
More than 130 student teams from 24 area schools competed to amass the highest net-worth by the end of the 60 day investment period. The catch was that each day was only 60 seconds! Just like in a real trading day, the student teams had access to tips and news that impacted the market and influenced whether they should buy or sell. Student teams participated through the generosity of local businesses and colleges.
St. Germain Investment Management is the Evening Sponsor. Savage Arms and Balise are Platinum Sponsors. TD Bank is the Trader Sponsor and Webster Bank is the Print Station Sponsor. Elms College is the first ever Education Sponsor, supporting the online learning activities that help students learn about the stock market and prepare for the event.
Other sponsors include Easthampton Savings Bank, Excel Dryer, Maybury Handling, Polish National Credit Union, Quabbin Wire & Cable, Western New England Bancorp, Westfield Gas & Electric, The Collins Companies, Country Bank, Dave’s Soda & Pet City, MMWEC, Raymond James, OMG, Inc., Sound Seal, Toner Plastics, United Industrial, JM O’Brien & Company P.C., Bay Path University, Springfield College, Western New England University, Consolidated Health plans, Florence Bank, Wolf & Company. Aaron – Smith, P.C., Whittlesey & Hadley, P.C. and Disability Management Services, Inc..
This was the 12th Anniversary of the JA Stock Market Competition and the excitement was high! First Place was won by Team Sidewalk Shakehorse, from Northampton High School. Team members included Eli Christopher, Henry Dunn, Max Weisenthal, and Brett Laverdiere. Northampton High School also took second place with Team Trinomials which included Megan-Rose Missien and Joaquin Flores.
Randy Gordon, teacher at Northampton High School, who worked with the students using the online simulations said, “My students showed a great deal of critical thinking and patience in their choices. They utilized very different strategies but managed them proficiently.”
Team Power Players from the Business Information Management Trade at Putnam Vocational Technical Academy in Springfield took Third Place. Team members included: Naasir Warren, Angelina Jeremiah, Abimarys Cruz, Cory Mattoon and Angel Salgado When asked about how Team Power Players took on the challenge, Angeliana Jeremiah said,“As a team we put our differences aside and agreed to have fun. We shared a common goal which was uplifting each other as we learned from this experience so we can grow and learn as a team/as a person. Being a part of this competition helped us realize that with hard work there is success.”
About Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and free enterprise. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12. JA offers educational programs that focus on seven key content areas: business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics/character, financial literacy, and career development. Today more than Junior Achievement Worldwide reaches almost seven million students in 98 countries. For more information, visit www.jawm.org.