Congratulations to the Financial Decision Making (FDM) students for sweeping the podium in the Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge! Students in the Business Education Department’s FDM classes at Shaker High School participated in the Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at the Broadview Center at UAlbany. There were hundreds of students that competed in this challenge across eleven school districts throughout the Capital Region. Students competed in groups of three to four students. There were three groups of students from SHS with an ending portfolio value that placed them in first, second and third place – an incredible achievement:
- Ranked #1 with an ROI (return on investment) of 44.56%
- Team Name: Shaker Trade Titans
- Group Members: Alexander Ridley (grade 12), Aidan Erickson (grade 11), Robert (R.J.) Chapman (grade 10), Avery Jones (grade 10)
- Ranked #2 with an ROI of 37.94%
- Team Name: Trading Titans
- Group Members: Zyair Doyle (grade 12), Jason Bailey (grade 11), Aydin Liton (grade 11), Nicholas Mirabile (grade 11)
- Ranked #3 with an ROI of 36.64%
- Team Name: Shaker Profit Squad
- Group Members: Charlie Bevevino (grade 12), Talyn Chernosky (grade 11), Ashlynn Phoenix (grade 11), Anthony Tleiji (Grade 11)
The JA Stock Market Challenge provided students with the opportunity to apply the information they learned in FDM class 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. The local news anchors announced the news that might or might not impact the students’ portfolios and large TV screens projected stock performances and team rankings. Days were simulated in a minute and teams had to work very quickly to make investment decisions based on the news and stock performances. 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 FDM classes and engaged with the students prior to the event.