Jonathan Saintrose, Feranmi Famewo, and Samuel Ojeleye recently earned a recognition on a national level - representing IMSA West with professionalism, curiosity, and excellence - for placing among the top 10 teams in the United States for the highly competitive Capitol Hill Challenge, an annual event sponsored by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Foundation.
To allow a better understanding of the selection process and to earn this distinction, Mr. Saintrose, Mr. Framewo, and Mr. Ojeleye competed against thousands of middle and high school teams from across the country, with extensive worked to be completed on a daily basis, beginning in January and ending in May.
The Competition Methodology
The Capitol Hill challenge begins with the formation of a team, which is then collaboratively linked to the team's Member of Congress. The students meet to learn about global economy and personal finance, which encompasses knowledge of stock markets, banking regulations, macroeconomics, inflation, and much more.
Each team is then granted a $100,000 hypothetical portfolio to manage via an online stock market game. Students are encouraged to become wise investors and can invest their simulated portfolio in real-world stocks, bonds, mutual funds, investments, and cash. This stage in the process requires considerable research and knowledge of civics as well as advanced financial exploration, generating an educational training that is immediately applicable to real-life scenarios. Performance is based on the increased value of the portfolio, and winners are selected according to their team's simulated net worth.
Of the thousands of teams that compete, only the top 10 are selected for an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., during which the students (and their team sponsor/teacher) have the opportunity to meet with their respective Congressperson (US Senator and/or Representative) and to further their education on fiscal policymaking.
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“It was an AMAZING experience all around, with everyone celebrating the accomplishments of our students," said IMSA West Principal Teresa Tschaenn, who acted as both chaperone as well as the team photographer. [This experience] made them all feel so special.” |
Success Beyond the Classroom
This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of these three individual students, as well as the highest quality of instruction, rigorous academic programing, and real-world learning opportunities that define the academic experience of each student at IMSA West.
The exposure to training in an area of concentration with real-world application, as well as the opportunity to visit our nation's capitol, is an experience that will remain with these winners far beyond the walls of the classroom and long after they have graduated from IMSA West's rigorous educational program. The opportunities and connections they made - considering their young age and the amount of insight they gained as a result of participating in this challenge - will likely shape their futures as they find enriching ways to continue their education at the university level and beyond.
We are honored by Jonathan Saintrose, Feranmi Famewo, and Samuel Ojeleye. To say that we are proud of them for this astounding achievement is only a minimal depiction of our true emotions for what this represents for both IMSA West as well as every school in the Concept network. These students have earned their place in history, beyond their schools and even more so in their respective communities, where their accomplishments will be revered for generations to follow. To be a part of this, in any capacity, is the catalyst that defines the mission we so ardently dedicate our lives to achieve.
