BOISE, Idaho — Junior Achievement of Idaho will be turning the Boise Centre into a simulated New York Stock Exchange for a day to help educate some 600 Idaho high school students about what it’s like buying and selling stocks on Wall Street.
The event, called The JA Stock Market Challenge, takes place on Tuesday, October 8th.
During the high-tech stock market simulation, high school teams will be given “$500,000” to invest in over fifty fictitious stocks. With trading days lasting just sixty seconds, the goal is to build the highest portfolio net worth in a frantic sixty “days”.
The JA Stock Market Challenge offers students a unique and fun opportunity to enjoy team-based decision making and a day comparable to a day on Wall Street!
“The Challenge allows students to experience all of the rush of investing and trading -- with none of the risk,” said Junior Achievement of Idaho President/CEI Sean Evans.
Prior to the event, Junior Achievement officials will provide an in-class educational program called JA Take Stock in Your Future. “Students will receive basic curriculum on why and how companies offer stock, company valuation, basic portfolio management, and the importance of investing early for retirement,” Evans said.
The student stock market simulation events will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“The object of the game is for teams to create as much net worth in their investment portfolio as possible. Each team consists of four or five high school students,” Evans explained. “Following the game, students will have the opportunity to review and analyze the impact of their trades. Through it all we will be inspiring the future financial leaders of tomorrow.”
That evening, the corporate community will have the opportunity to experience the same JA Stock Market Challenge program that students did earlier in the day.
The evening begins with a reception at 5:00 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served.
At 6:00 p.m. the New York Stock Exchange floor comes alive in Boise with the Opening Bell for sixty days of simulated, feverish trading. Corporate teams will buy, sell, and manage their portfolio of fictitious stocks.
Teams from companies around the Treasure Valley will compete to lay claim to the JA Stock Market Challenge trophy.
(Photo courtesy: Junior Achievement –- 2018 NYSE simulation)
