St. Mary Catholic School Wins Big Shoulders Contest With 50.3% Portfolio Gain

1 articles · Updated · Building Indiana Business · Jun 18

St. Mary Catholic Community School in Crown Point won the 18th annual Big Shoulders Fund Stock Market Program after growing its class portfolio 50.3%, beating more than 60 schools across Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
The year-long program gave each eighth-grade class $3,000 to invest with volunteer finance mentors, who helped students research stocks, build a strategy and defend their picks in presentations.
Oak Partners sponsored the winning class, with Isabella Kowalczyk and Jonathan Zemaitis leading instruction; Principal Tom Ruiz said the students even outperformed the S&P 500 in a volatile year.
More than 500 students gathered at Chicago's Harris Theater for the capstone event, where top schools and student stock pickers received awards, and students also earned a 2% management fee on ending portfolio value.
Big Shoulders Fund said the program is designed to make finance and business careers more accessible by giving students hands-on experience in saving, investing and money management.