The Center for Economic Education at Lynchburg College honored outstanding Stock Market Game™ participants, teacher award winners, and other significant contributions and achievements by teachers and students to economic education in area K-12 classrooms during their annual awards ceremony in May on the Lynchburg College campus.
The Center for Economic Education at Lynchburg College promotes economic literacy in Central Virginia, with a special emphasis on K-12 teachers. Innovative, SOL-compliant economic education resources and training opportunities are provided for teachers to develop students into competent, productive participants in the local and global economy.
LCS honorees from the awards program include:
Stock Market Game™ Student Honorees
- Linkhorne Middle School students Charlie Lollis, Justin Phillips, Jackson Riffee, and Logan Wilgus; teacher Brenda Murphy; first place in school division, second place in region, third place in state (Spring 2014)
- Linkhorne Middle School students Nate Colvin, Alex Miller, Michaela Smith, and Tyler Summers; teacher Brenda Murphy; third place in region, fourth place in state (Spring 2014)
Economic Education Teacher Awards - Region Winners
- First Place Middle School Economic Education Lesson Plan - Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation (Lynchburg City), Lesson entitled: The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowing in the Wind; teacher - Kenna Tarkenton (her lesson now goes to compete at the state level)
Other Economic Education Significant Achievements
Color the Economic Concepts Contest
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1st Place – Region and State Winner (drawing being displayed at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond for one year and printed in a set of posters for the 2014-2015 school year) MacKenzie Bystrek (3rd grade), Robert S. Payne Elementary School, Lynchburg City; teacher, Lori Smith; Drawing Topic – Interdependence
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2nd Place – Region (tie) Iyanna Martin (3rd grade), Dearington School for Innovation, Lynchburg City; teacher, Sarah Testerman; Drawing Topic – Goods & Services
- 3rd Place – Region Makayla Reyes (2nd grade), Robert S. Payne Elementary School, Lynchburg City; teacher, Kim Beuerle; Drawing Topic - Services
- Honoree – Region Kai Styrsky (3rd grade), Robert S. Payne Elementary School, Lynchburg City; teacher, Lori Smith; Drawing Topic – Natural Resources
- Honoree – Region Kiara Cobbs (3rd grade), Robert S. Payne Elementary School, Lynchburg City; teacher, Lori Smith; Drawing Topic - Money
- Honoree – Region Justin Kim (3rd grade), Robert S. Payne Elementary School, Lynchburg City; teacher, Lori Smith; Drawing Topic – Opportunity Cost
Governor’s Challenge in Economics and Personal Finance
- Region Finalists – E. C. Glass High School students Devin Smith, Sam Hudnall, and Tim Quaintance; teacher, Ms. Terri O’Hara, Lynchburg City, Personal Finance Division ~ Regional High Scoring Team and State Finalist
Award Descriptions
The Stock Market Game tm Program (grades 4-12)
The Stock Market Game gives students the chance to invest a hypothetical $100,000 in an on-line portfolio. 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. In building a portfolio, students research and evaluate stocks, and make decisions based on what they've learned. Teams trade common stocks and mutual funds from the NYSE, Nasdaq and AMEX exchanges; earn interest on cash balances; pay interest if buying on margin and pay a commission on all trades. To determine why certain stocks perform the way they do, or why the broader market has moved up or down, they need to understand how the economy works, and to calculate their returns they need to do the math.
Color the Economic Concept Contest (grades K-6)
Students have the opportunity to learn and illustrate their knowledge of economic concepts in a creative and fun way! Students depict a grade appropriate economic concept by drawing its meaning. Eight state winners are selected and their artwork is displayed at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
Governors Challenge in Economics and Personal Finance (grades 9-12)
Teams of high school students participate in a regional online 30 question test. High scoring teams are invited to a state -level live competititon showcasing their knowledge of economics and personal finance. State winners are then eligible to compete at the national level.