Learning the risks and rewards of Wall Street, 270 students at Great Bend High School recently participated in the Sixth Annual Legacy Financial Solutions Investment Challenge.
Utilizing an online platform called How the Market Works, participants started the month of February with $100,000 in virtual cash to “invest” at their discretion. While the online trading platform provides research tools, investment content, and real-time trading to simulate participation in the stock market, students and staff members have the opportunity to test their own strategies and experiment with their investments.
At the end of the month-long simulation, the top three student winners were Braxton Love, first; Dustyn Epp, second; and Kyler Harris, third.
“The popularity of the investment challenge has grown substantially in the past six years,” said Lacy Wolters, GBHS career/ACT coordinator. “It’s exciting to see students participate year after year, as well as their enthusiasm grow for personal finance and the stock market.
“The investment challenge allows students to apply what they are learning in the classroom to a realistic simulation, and even if they’re not enrolled in a personal finance class they can still participate,” said Wolters.
“It’s our goal to give students a real-life foundation in the world of investments and financial planning,” said Matt Hiss, investment advisor representative with Legacy Financial Solutions. “As participation grows, the excitement tells us we are offering a program where students both learn and enjoy. We enjoy partnering with the school to give students and staff members this experience.”
USD 428 staff members were also invited to participate. The top three were Daniel Schneider, first place; Jason Duvall, second place; and Andrea Bauer, third place.
For more information on the Great Bend High School Personal Finance and Investing class or the “How the Market Works” simulation, contact Lacy Wolters at 620-793-1521. For information about Legacy Financial Solutions, call 620-792-6333 or visit their office at 2001 Broadway Ave in Downtown Great Bend.
