Junior Achievement of North Florida hosted its Inaugural JA Stock Market Challenge

Jacksonville, Fla., April 3, 2023 – Junior Achievement of North Florida hosted 23 teams from four local high schools at its inaugural JA Stock Market Challenge. The event held at TIAA Bank Field’s East Club was set up to allow students to experience a real-world stock market trading floor. Teams from Raines, Englewood, Fletcher, and Bartram Trail High Schools were set up at tables on the trade room floor and followed the trade tickers and news of the day. The teams were given $1 million to trade and used paddles to alert the traders of their desire to buy or sell stocks during a 60-day period. The live competition was the finale to the JA Take Stock in Your Future pilot program designed to stimulate young people’s interest in personal finance and managing their money before they move on to college or the workforce.

“You could see the excitement in these students as they were working together in teams to create a stock portfolio with the highest value,” said Shannon Italia, president of JA of North Florida. “This JA learning experience helps students to build key competencies like critical thinking and collaboration skills which are essential for success in post-secondary education and industry. It also drives a higher level of inspiration and motivation and stimulates their interest in personal finance and fiscal responsibility.”

The 23 teams earned their spot in the live competition after completing five classroom sessions and additional activities where they were introduced to the basic concepts of how the stock market works and how current events can impact the trade. The students then competed in a classroom trading simulation where the top teams were chosen to compete in JA of North Florida’s inaugural live JA Stock Market Challenge.

Charlie Saman, JA Volunteer and Vice President of Commercial Lending, RadiFi Credit Union, said, “Take Stock in Your Future provides foundational concepts for financial literacy, investing and making better financial choices. It was a rewarding experience for me to be involved in the hands-on preparation of the stock simulation, coaching and engaging with Raines JROTC students one on one. This has been one of the most memorable experiences and opportunities to connect with the students.”

“What this program has really allowed us to do this year is to take something they are learning in the classroom, and it provided the opportunity for a practical experience,” said Kristy Mattice, Bartram Trail High School teacher. “Whenever the students get that opportunity their level of learning is so much deeper. They get the opportunity not only to see it in action but to make those critical thinking connections. They get to take their individual interests and research it a little bit deeper and then the sky is the limit in terms of what they can learn and where they might take it in the future.”

The trading session was for a period of 60 days with each day lasting 60 seconds. They were given QR codes to track their portfolio or they could get the information from a help desk using a punch card. The teams were allowed only three trades during a single visit by the trader before the trader moved on. The students were not allowed any contact or help from adults on the sidelines.

When the closing bell rang, the portfolios were tallied, and the top three winners were announced. Bartram Trail High School teams swept the competition and took the top three spots. Coming in third was White Collar Stocks. The second-place winner was Team Rio and the big winner of the day was The Stocksonville Jaguars whose portfolio was listed at $1,700,326.50.

“I think it is a lot of fun and I know a lot about financial literacy but I didn’t know a lot about stocks so I feel like coming here I was able to learn more about where it is smart to buy and where it is smart to sell,” said Maria Mankin, Bartram High School Student and First Place Winner. “It is really doing a lot for high schoolers. It is teaching them about finances and teaching them about stocks and the future.”

TIAA Bank was the title sponsor of the JA Stock Market Challenge and Publix Supermarkets was the presenting sponsor of the event. The UPS Foundations was the JA Take Stock in Your Future program sponsor.

About Junior Achievement of North Florida

We envision a world where young people have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities. Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. Our volunteers, educators and supporters inspire and prepare students to succeed through learning experiences that focus on three sets of critical life skills that are not always taught in schools. Since 1963, Junior Achievement of North Florida has been delivering JA learning experiences that help young people reach their potential. To learn more about Junior Achievement of North Florida, visit www.janfl.org.