Winners, Fall 2006
InvestWrite Essay Competition
Teachers whose students are participating in The Stock Market Game can submit student essays to the national InvestWrite competition. InvestWrite is the language arts component of the SMG, and offers an opportunity for additional learning and competition.
Competition is divided into three grade levels: Grades 4-5, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12. Ten top essays are awarded national recognition. The top entry in Illinois, following the top ten national entries, is awarded the designation of "State Winner."
Students write an essay in response to a given question or topic. The essay topic is changed every semester. The teacher can select a maximum of five essays per class to submit for national judging - thus, the teacher is asked to pre-judge the class' essays.
InvestWrite is a program of the Foundation for Investor Education (FIE). Central States Regional Director Lisa Donnini coordinates all aspects of the program including the anonymous judging and the prize distribution. Visit the InvestWrite web site and learn how you can get involved!
Illinois teachers whose students received recognition during the Fall 2006 competition are:
Sharon Phares, White Eagle Elementary School, Naperville (District 204)
As a teacher with three winning students, Ms Phares received a laptop computer, a one-year gift subscription to the Wall Street Journal, and gift cards. A celebration was held at White Eagle Elementary on February 5, including a class pizza party, an assembly attended by Naperville Mayor George Pradel and District 204 Superintendent Howie Crouse (pictured with students at right), among other dignitaries. Refreshments following the presentations were provided by the White Eagle PTA.
Pictured at right is Joanne Dempsey (left) with Ms Phares and the three InvestWrite winners - along with some of their classmates, who received second place in their region during the fall 2006 SMG session.
- 2nd place, grades 4-5, National Award - Matthew Carney. Matthew won a laptop computer and an iPod. Read Matthew's essay.
- 9th place, grades 4-5, National Award - Pratyush Rustagi. Pratyush won a gift card. Read Pratyush's essay.
- State Winner (tie), grades 4-5- Emily Ling. Emily won a gift card. Read Emily's essay.
Jeanine Buishas, Spring Brook Elementary School, Naperville (District 204)
Ms Buishas received two gift cards, having two winning students. A class pizza party was held on February 7, at which ICEE President Joanne Dempsey, SMG Coordinator Marty Paul and Dominican University Office of Economic Education Director Professor Daniel Condon presented awards to the winning students, their parents and Ms. Buishas.
- 8th place, grades 4-5, National Award - Jordan Nelmark. Jordan won a gift card. Read Jordan's essay.
- State Winner (tie), grades 4-5 - Albert Leung. Albert won a gift card. Read Albert's essay.
Katie Nigro, Millennium School, Homewood (District 153)
Katie won a gift card. A presentation was made at her school in conjunction
with a class pizza party. See the newspaper
article about Bryn.
- 6th place, grades 6-8, National Award - Bryn Dolan. Bryn won a gift card. Read Bryn's essay.
Norma Schulfer,
Manhattan Jr High School, Manhattan (District 114)
Norma won a gift card.
- State Winner, grades 6-8 - Brent Swanberg. Brent won a gift card.
Carol Meitl, Sycamore High School, Sycamore (District 427)
Gift cards and certificates of award were presented to Ms Meitl and Joel Balentyne at the March District 427 School Board meeting. Assisting with the recognition (pictured left to right) are Mark Leffler, SHS Principal; Beth Metzler, ICEE Program Coordinator; Joel Balentyne; Carol Meitl; Jim Dombek, School Board President; Dr. Wayne Riesen, Dist 427 Superintendent.
- State Winner, grades 9-12 - Joel Balentyne. Read Joel's essay.
