Competing in Stock Market Challenge
Wall Street trading came to Buffalo and 20 Amherst Central High School students were there to compete in the Stock Market Challenge. An annual event hosted by Junior Achievement of WNY, it’s held at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center on the second floor which is made to look like a stock trading floor with large ticker screens, a lot of people and noise.
This was Amherst's fourth year attending with five, four-person teams competing in the simulated stock market trading floor. Each team is given $1 million to buy stocks.
Most of the students are members of the Amherst Academies where they have formed strong bonds and enjoy these extraordinary experiences.
Amherst business teacher Christina Evans says, "Students who have competed have an incredible time, a great learning experience, and often become very interested in thinking about beginning to invest their own money. It is a fun way to demonstrate how the stock market works and the students practice essential collaboration and math skills."
The students select up to five initial stock picks a month prior to the event. At the event, teams will buy and sell their stocks and every minute represents one day of trading. Members of the team have special roles such as a runner, who brings their trades to a broker who electronically places their trade. The team with the highest value in their portfolio in the end wins. Numerous sponsors provide free tees and lunch for the students, as well as scholarship money and prizes for the top three teams.