Zicklin School’s Annual Stock Market Challenge Teaches Teens the Secrets of Smart Investing 

What kind of teenager would give up a month of summer vacation to study stock tips? At least 25 New Yorkers would—if Baruch’s recent High School Stock Market Challenge is any indication.  

The challenge, sponsored by the Subotnick Financial Services Center and spearheaded by distinguished lecturer Gideon Pell, the center’s acting director, took place during four weeks in July. Participants—25 rising seniors who hailed from 10 area high schools—were given a virtual $1 million to manage individually, guided by lessons from Pell in researching stocks, analyzing financial data, and making strategic financial decisions, combined with hands-on classroom activities.   

Prof. Pell and third-place winner Leka.

At the end of the four-week challenge, six of the 25 teens were recognized in an awards ceremony at the Zicklin School, with their families invited. The top four performers got Amazon gift certificates of varying amounts, and two others received awards for their thoughtful, well-organized presentations.    

“Professor Pell basically taught us how to invest,” said third-place winner Alex Leka over a generous brunch of fresh fruit, orange juice, coffee, muffins, and croissants. Leka, a student from the High School of American Studies at Lehman College in the Bronx, said he gained the critical thinking and research skills necessary to navigate a volatile market.  

“I learned it’s important not to follow the herd,” said Regice.

“Sometimes we learn more from our mistakes than our successes,” Pell remarked before presenting each participant with their certificate. Indeed, several students’ slide shows reflected this.  

Top winner Xu will “definitely” apply to Baruch.

The number-one performer, Christopher Xu of Francis Lewis High School in Queens, shifted his portfolio from high-risk semiconductors to more stable blue-chip stocks when the tech sector grew colder. Similarly, his classmate Edley Regice, who got a presentation award, balanced his initial focus on tech and AI with healthcare, defense, and retail stocks. “I learned it’s important not to follow the herd and to do my own research,” he offered.  

The challenge also served as a recruitment tool, luring bright, business-minded students to Baruch and the Zicklin School. During the challenge, students took advantage of the Subotnick Center’s state-of-the-art services, including Bloomberg terminals and free access to software such as S&P Capital IQ and FactSet.  

Destiny Ortega, a rising senior at New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn, said she hopes to attend community college for two years and then transfer to Baruch and Zicklin to study management. Top prizewinner Xu says he’ll “definitely” apply to Zicklin and is already set on majoring in business administration or entrepreneurship and minoring in finance. 

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