Inside Business

Stock Market Challenge raises about $16,000

Posted: December 9, 2011

Junior Achievement of Hampton Roads raised about $16,000 last week during its seventh annual Stock Market Challenge.

The challenge was held Dec. 5 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk. Another one was held on Dec. 6 at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton.

Teams made up of students from local high schools and Hampton Road businesses spent more than an hour and a half frantically trading mock stocks to see who could end up with the most cash.

Students from Oscar Smith High School in Virginia Beach won the Norfolk student event.

Students from Hampton High School won the student event in Hampton.

Bull Market, made up of a team from Merrill Lynch, won the adult challenge in Norfolk. Second place went to Harbor Group Management Co.

Official figures haven't been tallied, but the challenges raised at least $16,000, said Adrianna Rivera, development director for Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads.

The money goes toward Junior Achievement programs, which prepare kindergartens through 12th graders for real life through financial literacy, workforce readiness and entrepreneurial programs.

Last year, 9,000 Hampton Roads students participated in the organization's programs.

"All the money that is raised in Hampton Roads goes toward Hampton Roads students," Rivera said. "If we raise money in Hampton Roads, it stays in Hampton Roads."

The event held on Dec. 5 was sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. The event on Dec. 6 was sponsored by Bayport Credit Union and Bayport Financial.

By Bill Cresenzo