LEWISBURG -- The trio of Lewisburg Area High sophomores who finished second in Pennsylvania in the Spring 2011 Stock Market Game did not participate in the fall competition as juniors.
You might have thought the Lewisburg dynasty in the EconomicsPennsylvania contest would suffer in the autumn without the play of Joe Cooper, Travis Conrad and Jordan Massoud.
But you would be wrong.
Freshmen Kent Stieler and Caleb Reedy took first place in Pennsylvania in the high school division of the Fall 2011 game, ending with $212,651.
Students invest a hypothetical $100,000 in the stock market and trade for 10 weeks.
"They came in with a good foundation already," Lewisburg High economics teacher Michael Creeger said of Stieler and Reedy, who had participated in the middle school category of the competition. "We just touch up on some things and let them go."
Lewisburg High, which has been a state powerhouse in five of the past six years in the Stock Market Game, had eight teams finish in the Top 10 in Pennsylvania in the Fall 2011 game.
Eighteen of the 19 students on those fall squads are freshmen.
"(The competition) has given our students the opportunity to excel," said Creeger, who guides the Lewisburg squads. "Our students in general have a strong tradition to push themselves and see how well they can do. The ones who grab a hold of the concept really get into it through their own determination, and do exceptionally well."
Creeger and Carolyn Shirk, vice president of EconomicsPennsylvania, laud Mifflinburg Bank & Trust Co. for sponsoring the competition.
"Mike will tell you that without this funding, these kids would have not learned what they did," Shirk said. "They take the time that others won't to see the students and congratulate them. They have provided prizes for these students, something EcPA cannot do without them. Our community is blessed by the goodness and dedication of (bank President and CEO) Jeffrey Kapsar and what his fine bank does for our community.
The Stock Market Game, a regional and statewide competition, is designed to increase students' understanding of the economy, markets and corporations. The simulation offers players the opportunity to invest a hypothetical $100,000 in stocks, bonds and mutual funds chosen from the American, New York and NASDAQ markets. The game is an award-winning educational program from EconomicsPennsylvania.
At least 250 students at Lewisburg High participate in the Stock Market Game. Creeger did not know how many participate from the Lewisburg district at the middle-school level.
All pupils enrolled in Creeger's ninth-grade economics class compete in the event, as can other students who are in his advanced placement economics classes.
With the Spring 2012 game to begin Feb. 13, Creeger has high hopes for the trio of juniors who last spring earned $193,340, finishing second among Pennsylvania high schools to a squad from Wallenpaupack.
Cooper, Conrad and Massoud have finished in the Top 3 in the state two or three times, Creeger said.
"I think they are excited and ready to start back into it," Creeger said. "With the fall game, with them not participating, I shared in my classroom how well they did. I think they are going to come back with a vengeance to reclaim that spot."
But they may have to watch out for Stieler and Reedy.
