The Stock Market Game
Capitol Hill Challenge -
Illinois Wins 2011!
Select a program year from the list below.
The Capitol Hill Challenge is a special edition of The Stock Market Game™ that shares with Members of Congress real-time examples of students benefitting from the program in their respective district or state. Since its inception in 2004, CHC has engaged over 240 U.S. Representatives and over 115 U.S. Senators with over 7,000 students across the country.
The program takes place every spring with student teams managing a hypothetical $100,000 online portfolio, investing in real stocks, bonds and mutual funds. The classroom learning focuses on the importance of long-term saving and investing. CHC acknowledges the accomplishment of the top placing teams and their teachers with a trip to Washington D.C. to meet their Members of Congress and tour financial landmarks and national monuments.
A History of Champions
Illinois won the inaugural Capitol Hill Challenge! Following is a historical list of winning teams who were recognized by a trip to Washington D.C.
- 2004: West Chicago Community HS, Donald Zabelin teacher. Speaker Dennis Hastert
- 2005: Chilton County HS, AL. Representative Spencer Bachus
- 2006: Blackman HS, TN. Representative Bart Gordon
- 2008: Riverton HS, UT. Senator Robert Bennett
- 2009: Christian Academy of Louisville HS, KY. Senator Jim Bunning
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2010: 1st - Frederick Douglass HS, GA. Congressman John Lewis
- 2nd - Wando HS, SC. Senator Jim DeMint
- 3rd - Star Valley HS, WY. Senator John Barrasso.
- 2011:
1st. Neuqua Valley HS, IL. Kevin Geers, teacher. Judy Biggert, sponsor.
- 2nd. Oak Hill HS, ME. Olympia Snowe, sponsor.
- 3rd. Westby HS, MT. Denny Rehberg, sponsor.
- 4th. Mayfield HS, NM. Tom Udall, sponsor.
- 5th. Monarch HS, CO. Jared Polis, sponsor.
Who can participate?
Most teachers who have participated in Capitol Hill Challenge in past years, and whose US Senator or Representative is participating, are invited to return to the program. In legislative areas where there is no past teacher-participant, or a past teacher-participant declines to participate in the current year, Econ Illinois will recommend qualifying teachers to be offered an invitation.
What is the timeframe?
The Capitol Hill Challenge portfolio competition runs early February to mid-May.
Participating teachers select up to ten teams to be enrolled in Capitol Hill Challenge. Teams will have an ID and password that are unique to CHC. The CHC portfolio will not be part of the Illinois SMG. Teams may maintain separate portfolios in both the Illinois SMG and the CHC.
Teachers will receive an invitation to participate directly from SIFMA Foundation for Investor Education - Nancy Kahn, CHC program coordinator. Econ Illinois will assist in the process of issuing invitations.
The value of Capitol Hill Challenge
The CHC SMG helps keep Members of Congress informed about advances that students in their district make each year through The Stock Market Game™, including better understanding the global economy, developing personal financial skills, and improving their knowledge of math, economics and business. It also exposes them to SIFMA Foundation's broader financial and investor education efforts as well as the myriad individual contributions of SIFMA member firms and their employees. For example, Members of Congress learn that:
- Financial advisors from SIFMA member firms visit classrooms to discuss the global economy and the basics of long-term saving and investing
- Students visit operations and trading facilities at SIFMA member firms
- Market analysts speak at teacher training events on current economic trends
- Industry professionals volunteer as judges in the SMG's national essay contest, InvestWrite
- Independent research shows that the SMG program improves student test scores in math, financial knowledge and economics.
The Capitol Hill Challenge also provides Members of Congress an opportunity to visit the schools in their home states or districts to witness the valuable academic and life lessons students learn from the SIFMA Foundation's SMG program – and to inspire and serve as role models for the students.