MONTCLAIR, NJ — At the final round of this year’s Euro Challenge competition, held April 19 at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, five teams emerged as the winners. Students from Montclair High School in first place; Ridgefield High School, Conn., in second place; Joel Barlow High School, Conn., in third place; Mount Saint Mary Academy, N.J., in fourth place; and International Academy’s Okma Campus, Mich., in fifth place beat top teams from 24 other high schools on the final day of intense competition.
The Euro Challenge is a unique and exciting educational opportunity for high school students from across the United States to learn about the European Union — the largest economic partner of the United States — and the 19 countries that share its single currency, the euro. Participants showcase their specific knowledge of countries in the euro area and make policy recommendations to rein in deficits and debt, reduce unemployment, or solve other challenges confronting these countries.
The winning teams will receive monetary awards provided by the Moody’s Foundation, along with a trip to Washington, D.C., for the top two teams.
“It was very impressive to watch today’s competition, to see how engaged and financially literate these students are and to hear how confidently they could present truly creative solutions for some of our most urgent economic challenges,” ambassador David O’Sullivan, head of the European Union delegation to the United States, said as he attended the award ceremony. “The Euro Challenge has been a great learning experience for thousands of students as they go beyond the headlines of economic news to fully understand key economic concepts and the complex realities faced by policymakers. The Euro Challenge also helps them to have a better understanding of how deeply Europe and America are connected.”
The Euro Challenge fosters a better understanding of the European economy and transatlantic economic relations, and it supports local learning objectives in economics and finance. Launched in 2005, the competition continues to expand nationally. This year, close to 100 high school teams from 14 states — Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin — plus the District of Columbia participated in the program. Preliminary regional competitions concluded at the end of March, with 25 schools advancing to the finals.
The Euro Challenge is a program launched and supported by the delegation of the European Union to the United States, and is managed on the delegation’s behalf by w!se, Working in Support of Education. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York serves as program adviser.
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