Addison Trail Economics students perform well in Illinois Stock Market Game

From January to April, Addison Trail students who are enrolled in social studies teacher Tom Hubner’s Economics class competed in the Illinois Stock Market Game.

Through that experience, participants trade stocks, bonds and mutual funds in real time. Competitors are encouraged to research, strategize and find trusted sources. Students learn the importance of timing in the market, which sectors and industries are hot and cold, and how world events can affect the stock market.

“This is a core part of Economics, where students learn how to invest, how to set up retirement accounts and how to use different investment vehicles to shield their money from taxes,” Hubner said.

According to http://illinois.smgww.org/#/, the game is “an online simulation of the global capital markets and engages students in grades 4-12 in the world of economics, investing and personal finance with the goal of preparing them for financially independent futures.”

More than 1,500 teams from high schools throughout northern Illinois were part of the event, and the Addison Trail students below finished in the top 100.

• Juniors Eric Baltazar-Rojas and Justin Osornio (pictured above, left and second from left) finished in 6^th place, with a 25% gain.  
  
  
• Junior Yordi Gomez Mejia (pictured above, right) finished in 16^th place, earning a return of 17%.  
  
  
• Junior Rubi Vargas (pictured above, third from left) went from 883^rd place to 34^th place in three weeks, with some tremendous buys near the end of the game.  
  
  
• Juniors Osbaldo Luna and Carlos Peralta finished in 90^th place