Students across Delaware gained valuable insights into investing and personal finance by competing in the 2024 Fall Stock Market Game (SMG). The top-performing teams, who demonstrated both skill and strategy, were celebrated during a virtual awards ceremony on January 23, 2025.
Hosted by the University of Delaware’s Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship (CEEE), the virtual event honored the winning teams from elementary, middle, and high school divisions. This event, sponsored by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), was made possible in Delaware by the financial support of the Delaware Department of Justice’s Investor Protection Unit and WSFS Bank. The awards ceremony was moderated by CEEE Assistant Director and SMG Coordinator Scott Bacon.
The SMG is an online simulation designed for students in grades 4-12, enabling them to experience real-world investing and personal finance. By participating in this simulation, students are better prepared for their financial futures, gaining a deeper understanding of economics and the fundamentals of investing. The game encourages active participation in a fun, competitive environment, offering a unique opportunity to learn and grow in the world of finance.
With 1,797 Delaware students, 403 teams, 39 teachers, and 36 schools participating, the SMG ran over the course of 10 weeks in fall 2024. Each team was tasked with managing a hypothetical $100,000, challenging them to research, buy, sell, and manage stocks while making strategic investment decisions.
Teachers played a key role in guiding their students through the game, helping them overcome any obstacles and providing insight throughout the portfolio-building process. As a result, students not only learned about the rewards and risks of investing but also developed essential skills for managing their finances in the future.
Middle School Division Winner: Newark Charter Junior High School
The winning team in the middle school division came from Newark Charter Junior High School. Composed of 6th-8th grade students Simone Novocin, Samuel Tatum Pollock, and Layla Smith, the team achieved an impressive return on investment of $34,122.14, earning first place in the state overall.
Georgsson Sverrir, the team’s teacher, credited the students’ success to their use of the SMG mini lessons, which helped establish a solid foundation for their investment strategies. He further guided them through the evolving dynamics of the game with additional insights.
“We focus on sectors driven by innovation and disruption, such as AI, hardware and software, robotics, genomics, DeFi, and blockchain technologies, to expose students to the dynamic landscape of modern finance,” said Sverrir. This strategy helped the students make informed decisions as they researched and invested in companies with strong growth potential.
Sverrir highlighted that the SMG has become an invaluable asset in his classroom, providing a hands-on, engaging method for students to learn about financial markets and investing.
High School Division Winner: Cape Henlopen High School
A team of 10th graders from Cape Henlopen High School won the high school division and claimed the 11th spot statewide, with a return on investment of $25,968.34. The team—composed of Weston Bohl, Justina Goudy-Mellet, Justin “Cruz” Vent, and Bennett Steinmann—focused their investments on well-established companies like Tesla, Apple, and Microsoft. They attributed their success to their strategic timing, particularly with their investments in Tesla, which saw significant growth after the presidential election. Their teacher is Katie Izykowski.
Elementary Division Winner: Gallaher Elementary School
In the elementary division, the winning team, which placed 21st overall, included 4th grade students Colby Louden, Pablo Romero Duarte, and Moomtahina Kader from Gallaher Elementary School in the Christina School District. Their team, guided by teacher Christel Skaug, achieved a return of $21,924.47, a remarkable accomplishment given the competition from middle and high school teams.
To wrap up the virtual ceremony, Scott Bacon reflected on the overall goals of the Stock Market Game and offered his insights on this year’s winners.
“The Stock Market Game fosters critical thinking, teamwork, and financial literacy among students, empowering them with the knowledge they need for success in both investing and life,” Bacon said. “What impresses me year after year is how these students consistently beat the outcomes achieved by professional investors. There might be some luck involved, but I really think it reflects their focus on learning about markets, their attention to research, a dynamic mindset for diverse strategies, and a desire to compete and win. These skills and attitudes will take these impressive students far in life, and I’m confident they will not only contribute to their own prosperity, but also to the well-being of the world.”
Looking Ahead: The Spring Stock Market Game
The Stock Market Game is an ongoing initiative that continues to grow in impact, reaching thousands of students across Delaware each year. Thanks to the support from the Investor Protection Unit of the Delaware Department of Justice and WSFS Bank, teams can register free of charge.
The spring game will begin on February 3, 2025, and run through April 11, 2025. Teams can register at any time during the competition period.