Home Key Programs IPFC Winners 2010

2010 Results

National Personal Finance Challenge Results

Community High School
ties for fourth place in
National Personal Finance Challenge

The top twelve Personal Finance teams from across the nation competed in the inaugural National Personal Finance Challenge on May 20th at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.  Community High School (West Chicago) teacher Don Zabelin and his first place student team members represented Illinois in this final competition of the year (shown testing, at right.)

Participating states included: Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

Minnesota earned the National Championship, with Missouri taking the Reserve Championship.

Testing consisted of two rounds of individual written multiple-choice tests for students in the teams of four. The third round was a team test in which all team members contributed to the final answer. The Championship team was determined by matching the two highest-scoring teams from rounds one, two and three, in a final buzzer round.

Illinois Results

State Championship

On April 21, 75 high school students from 10 Illinois high schools and programs competed in the Second Annual Illinois Personal Finance Challenge State Championship.

The Illinois competition was held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and consisted of individual and team tests, ending with a final buzzer round. During a morning break, students participated in a lively "Jeopardy" activity, winning prizes and $2 bills!

In the online preliminary testing, 135 student teams - over 500 students - competed for the invitation to the Illinois Personal Finance Challenge State Championship. Twenty teams representing all areas of the state were invited to compete for State Champion. Teams consisted of four students each, unless one student could not attend - and then the three remaining students tested.

Winners in Illinois Personal Finance Challenge receive medals, U.S. savings bonds and a trophy to display at their school. Every school advancing to the State Championship receives a plaque to signify their having been selected as a State Finalist. All teachers and students participating in the event receive 2010 Illinois Personal Finance T-shirts and certificates of participation.

First Place, Champion: Community High School, West Chicago. Donald Zabelin, teacher. Team members: Peter C, Thomas K, Matthew K. Shown at right with Joanne Dempsey, Econ Illinois President/ Executive Director. Students advance to the national competition held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City on May 20.

Second Place, Reserve Champion: Waubonsie Valley High School, Angie Hysjulien, teacher. Team members: Avni K, Jonathan S, Patrick S. Pictured with Joanne Dempsey, Econ Illinois President/ Executive Director. (Download a high resolution image for best print quality)

Illinois Participants in FinanceChallenge ONLINE! 2010

Teams from the following schools competed online for the 2010 Illinois Personal Finance Challenge. An asterisk indicates those schools having a team or teams qualifying for the state finals competition.

• *Beecher City HS, Kristine Sayers, teacher.
• Boylan Central Catholic HS, Rockford. Katherine Schmid, teacher.
• *Bremen HS, Midlothian. Chad Augustine, teacher.
• Buffalo Grove HS, Karen Roberts, teacher.
• *Community HS, West Chicago. Candace Fikis, teacher; Don Zabelin, teacher.
• Downers Grove South HS, Patrick Fardy teacher.
• *Harrisburg HS, Beth Lane, teacher.
• Hutsonville HS, Mary Alice Schmidt, teacher.
• *La Salle Peru Twp HS, Scott Lauer, teacher.
• *Marist High School, Chicago. Thomas Seputis, teacher.
• *Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville. Brian Giovanini, teacher.
• Quincy Area Vocational Center, Marti Dunker, teacher.
• Rockford Christian HS, Katrina McIntosh, teacher.
• *ROE Alternative Program of Lake County, Zion. Lawrence Leck, teacher.
• Scales Mound HS, Leslie Virtue, teacher.
• Simeon Career Academy, Chicago. Joy Joyce, teacher.
• Theodore Roosevelt HS, Chicago. Mirsad Spahovic, teacher.
• *Waubonsie Valley HS, Aurora. Angie Hysjulien, teacher.
• *Whitney M. Young Magnet HS, Chicago. Joan Kane, teacher.
• Wilmington HS, Wilmington. Bethani Hincherick, teacher.

The 2010 Illinois Personal Finance Challenge is sponsored by Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation with in-kind support from the Federal Reserve Banks of Chicago and St. Louis.