In their first year competing in the Capitol Hill Challenge, students from Houston Middle School placed second, earning a three-day trip to Washington, D.C. to kickstart their summer.

Each year, with the full participation of Congress, the Capitol Hill Challenge (CHC) invites thousands of public school students nationwide to participate in a fun, educational online competition that instills a deeper understanding of personal finance and economics. Students competed with teams nationwide by investing a hypothetical $100,000 portfolio in an online investment simulation. Houston students learned the fundamentals of capital markets and investing in Ms. Michelle Nguyen’s math class then put theory into practice by managing diversified portfolios of stocks, bonds, mutual funds and cash. The students conducted their own research and methods to diversify their portfolio to ensure the highest amount of gain by the end of 15 weeks. They improved their knowledge of math, economics and personal finance. Dynamic market conditions created exciting competition as teams vied to produce the top-performing investment portfolio among participating schools nationwide.

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) and the SIFMA Foundation awarded the winning students a fully-funded trip to Washington, D.C. from June 11 to 13. During this trip, students visited the Capitol, met Congressman Marc Veasey and learned more about our nation’s government while sharing their investment strategy with other peers and leaders.

“I want to congratulate all the students and schools that participated in this year’s Capitol Hill Challenge,” says Kenneth E. Bentsen Jr., SIFMA president and CEO. “Our industry is committed to helping young people learn the importance of saving and investing, while also providing them a solid foundation to achieve their future financial goals. Along with the SIFMA Foundation, SIFMA is proud to partner with the Charles Schwab Foundation and we commend all Members of Congress who visited their local schools virtually and in-person to engage with students on financial education.”

The winners from Houston Middle School are Alexander Demeza, Henry Hernandez, Landon Orellana Reyna, Miguel Salazar and their teacher, Michelle Nguyen.

 

About the SIFMA Foundation

The SIFMA Foundation is committed to closing the opportunity gap by fostering greater knowledge of the financial markets for young people of all backgrounds. Drawing on the support and expertise of educators and the financial industry, the Foundation provides financial education to strengthen economic opportunity across communities and increase awareness of the benefits of the global marketplace. Since 1977, the Foundation’s flagship program, The Stock Market Game™, has guided more than 22 million students on their path to financial independence by attaining stronger life skills, improving academic achievement and boosting their social-emotional learning. For more information on the SIFMA Foundation, visit www.sifma.org/foundation.