Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Almost $4,000 was awarded by the University of Illinois Springfield to local high school students as part of a virtual stock trading competition. Conducted on the free platform MarketWatch, the competition drew participants from Rochester, New Berlin, Sacred-Heart Griffin, and Auburn High Schools as well as home-schooled students.

Rochester students took the top five positions, with stock market returns ranging from 165.4% to 82.6% over the month-long period. Prizes for the winners were funded by the UIS Strategic Investment Fund.

“Our goal with this competition is not only to raise awareness about financial literacy among local high school students but also to inspire them to explore the field,” said UIS Assistant Professor of Finance Serkan Karadas. “We hope that through this initiative, students will see the benefits of understanding financial markets and consider how a degree from UIS could further their academic and professional aspirations.”

The competition included more than 80 students. UIS reports plans are already underway to expand and enhance next year’s stock trading competition.