Hawaii student stock pickers gear up again
The Hawaii Stock Market Simulation program kicked off its spring campaign this week with 2,522 students testing their investment skills in school-supervised competition.
The interactive contest, which helps students learn how the U.S. market system works, is being held on five islands with 62 teachers representing 47 schools and 956 teams. The 10-week competition ends April 20.
"Economics is about decision-making," said Kristine Castagnaro, executive director of the Hawaii Council on Economic Education. "As students build their portfolios using Hawaii SMS, they will gain financial literacy skills and strengthen their critical thinking and reasoning abilities -- all of which are necessary to make smart, informed choices in their lives."
Castagnaro said the SMS program started in Hawaii in the fall of 2000 with 183 students and has grown steadily.
Students, who are in grades 3 through 12, can participate in four categories. The aggressive division requires that portfolios contain 80 percent stocks and 20 percent bonds. The growth-division portfolio must contain 65 percent stocks and 35 percent bonds. The income/ growth division requires 50 percent stocks and 50 percent bonds. And the elementary division does not have to contain bonds. The first- and second-place team members at the end of the session receive $100 and $50 savings bonds. The program is funded by the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of the Securities Commissioner.
Rankings are updated online daily at www.hawaiisms.com/ranking1.php
