Want a stock tip? Ask these Shorecrest students

Shorecrest students win Fall Stock Market Game

The winners of the high school division of the Fall Stock Market Game set their team’s goal as “Go Big or Go Home” and go big they did, racking up earnings 28% higher than the return on the S&P 500 over the course of the game. 

Team members included Aaron Feagin, Matt Drake, Alex Tien, and Gavin Draper from Linda Cobb’s second period class at Shorecrest High School.

How did they do it? According to their teacher, the team followed the following strategy:

“They started the game purchasing Netflix and Toyota. They selected Netflix because it is popular and seemed to be doing well. They purchased 500 shares at $57.03 a share and at the end of the game it closed at almost $86.00 a share. 

The price jumped right after they purchased it showing them that sometimes timing can be everything in a short term situation. When the stock market hit some rough spots and other teams closed in on them they became a bit more anxious. The final week was exciting, especially when Netflix announced they would be streaming Disney movies in the near future and their stock shot up again! We kept their portfolio a secret from the rest of the teams until the last week of the game. 

Today we resumed classes after the break, and it seems that many students spent quite a bit of time watching shows and movies on Netflix!”

The Stock Market Game™ gives 4-12th grade students the opportunity to build virtual investment portfolios in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange trade funds. They purchase their investments at real world prices, and compete to earn the highest returns. Despite the short term nature of the game, participation in the game results in long term increases in student knowledge of economics, personal finance and mathematics. 

All teams competing in the Washington Council for Economic and Financial Education’s game are required to hold a diversified portfolio. 

Shorecrest’s winning portfolio also included holdings in Leggett and Platt, Lowes, and Helmerich Payne. Over 450 high school teams competed in the fall game.

Second place went to a team from Clarice Hunter’s class at Bishop Blanchet High School with a return of approximately 25% above the market. A team coached by Ryan Hadfield at Lincoln High School took third place honors with a return of 22%.

The winning team will receive prizes and be recognized at an awards luncheon in May.

Russell Investments has underwritten the costs of the program, including the awards, team fees to play the game and the provision of teacher trainings, all designed to enhance the financial skills of Washington students.

The Washington Council for Economic and Financial Education works to create a generation of economically literate and financially capable young people by providing educators with training and programs such as the Stock Market Game.