From Harford County Public Schools:
With the ups and downs of the stock market over the past 3 months, many people have had difficulty making gains in their investments. However, that was not the case for three 5th graders at Joppatowne Elementary School. Mazin Karjikar, Stephanos Mulder-Stoupakis and Dylan Purkey were able to make more than a little gain. In fact they earned $12,000 for their team portfolio playing the Stock Market Game in the fall of 2011.
The Stock Market Game is an educational simulation that teaches about the stock markets, the American economic system and the global economy. Across the country, students in grades 4-12 and college courses create “accounts” with a hypothetical dollar amount to invest in common stocks listed on the New York and American Stock Exchanges, and the Nasdaq Stock Market. During the ten-week sessions, students learn to buy, sell, evaluate, and record their gains and losses without ever risking their own money.
Mazin, Stephanos, and Dylan’s gains were the largest of any elementary group in the state. As a reward, the three boys, along with their teachers, Mrs. Kathleen Thompson, Mr. Andy Smith and principal Cheryl Steeg were recognized on the floor of the State Senate Chamber on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.
“When we were at the State House being recognized at the general assembly, it was very exciting for all of us. As a team, we all felt very proud of our accomplishment. It was a great experience for us,” said Cheryl Steeg.
The Stock Market Game is sponsored by the Towson University Economics Department.
Pictured from left to right: Joppatowne Elementary School principal, Mrs. Cheryl Steeg; Dylan Purkey; Mazin Karjikar; Stephanos Mulder-Stoupakis; fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Kathleen Thompson; and gifted and talented teacher, Mr. Andrew Smith.
those are my three best friends and they worked very hard on earning that spot