Calvin Risley, an 11th grade student in Mr. Brad Dono-van’s Financial Math class at the Town of Webb School has been awarded a SIFMA Certificate of Achievement Award as a member of a Second Place Team in the nationwide Stock Market Game competition.
SIFMA, or Securities Indus-tries and Financial Markets Association Foundation, sponsors this on-line game for students to promote financial literacy by giving each student $100,000 of “money” in an account that they can use to purchase “actual” stocks that interest them.
Using real data from actual markets, the student’s account will track their daily gain or loss as the actual stock market fluctuates.
The students are able to buy or sell stocks and bonds daily, or even ‘short sell’ stocks.
“We only play the game for four to six weeks while we are learning the lessons, but the game actually goes on during the entire school year and awards prizes as part of a competition between students,” said Donovan.
“This year Calvin Risley was one of the lucky winners. He succeeded in building the second highest portfolio from all the students playing across New York state.”
Calvin’s investments included Nike and Hasbro.
“It was sort of an experment. You start buying stocks and hope to get some money out of it,” he said.
In addition to the Award Certificate, Calvin also received a Silver Medal, a Winner’s Blue Ribbon, and a letter of recognition of his accomplishment.
Calvin is the son of Richard Risley and Valerie Mills of Thendara.
The Town of Webb School offers the Financial Math course for college credit in cooperation with Herkimer County Commu-nity College.
Their “College Now” program allows high school students to earn both college credit and high school credit at the same time.
