Shaker Places Four of Top 5 Teams in Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge

Students in the Business Education Department’s Financial Decision Making (FDM) classes at Shaker High School participated in the Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge on March 27, 2024 at the Broadview Center (UAlbany). There were hundreds of students that competed in this challenge across eight school districts throughout the Capital Region. Students competed in groups of 3-4 students. There were 4 groups of students from Shaker High School with an ending portfolio value that placed them in the Top 5 performing groups:

  • Ranked #1 with an ROI (return on investment) of 71.93%
    • Team Name: Stay Winin
    • Group Members: Amanda Palmar (grade 12), Chasten Spencer (grade 11), Mohammed Idris (grade 10)
  • Ranked #3 with an ROI of 57.09%
    • Team Name: BEN
    • Group Members: Lorenz Guzman (grade 12), Jordan Prusky (grade 11), Ben Zuchelkowski (grade 11), Nico Caruso (grade 10)
  • Ranked #4 with an ROI of 46.07%
    • Team Name: Bison of Wall Street
    • Group Members: Ava Scattareggia (grade 12), Owen Brant (grade 11), Nick Graziano (grade 11) Brandon Makoyi (grade 11)
  • Ranked #5 with an ROI of 43.42%
    • Team Name: Shake Stocks
    • Group Members: Darryl Cooper (grade 11), William Cunningham (grade 11), Lorenzo Rizk (grade 11), Brodie Flaherty (grade 10)

The Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge provided students with the opportunity to apply the information they learned in Financial Decision Making related to investing in stocks and the stock market in a hands-on and high-tech immersive simulation. Each group of students had a virtual $1,000,000 to invest in stocks. The event was emceed by Trishna Begam and K.C. Kantz from NEWS10 ABC. Days were simulated in a minute and teams had to work quickly to make investment decisions based on the news and stock performances. Large TV screens projected stock performances and team rankings. It was very fast paced and exciting, simulating the trading floor of a stock exchange. To prepare for the challenge and support the students classroom learning, professionals in the field of finance visited the Financial Decision Making classes and engaged with the students prior to the event.