JA San Diego Brings the New York Stock Exchange to San Diego Students

Mar 21, 2024 (San Diego, CA) — Investing has become more accessible than ever before with the rise of online investing platforms and apps. At the same time, more employers are switching from traditional pensions to 401(k)’s and 403(b)’s that require individuals to invest their own money. The knowledge and skills to invest successfully are rarely taught in traditional education. To equip young people with the tools to make smart and strategic investing decisions, Junior Achievement of San Diego immerses high school students in to the world of investing at their annual JA Stock Market Challenge simulation.

On Thursday, Mar. 21, 2024, nearly 100 students from across the county came together and compete in building mock investment portfolios over a simulated 60-day trading period following news updates mirroring real-world events.

To prepare for the event, over 400 students participated in JA curriculum that teaches the fundamentals of the stock market and how to develop long-term investing strategies. The curriculum covers key investing concepts such as risk and benefits assessments, the importance of diversification, and how company performance can be influenced by current events.

“Knowing how to invest isn’t a ‘bonus’; it’s a critical competency needed to save for retirement, build wealth, and achieve financial independence for demographics that have been historically under-invested. At JA San Diego, we’re working towards economic equity and we’re starting by empowering our youth,” said Sidd Vivek, JA San Diego President & CEO. “JA Stock Market Challenge provides high schoolers with a unique to opportunity gain real, hands-on experience investing in a safe, risk-free learning environment.”

Lincoln High teams secured first and second place and an O’Farrell Charter team won third place.

To learn more about bringing JA Stock Market Challenge to your school, visit our High School Experiences page on our website or contact Nancy Quidachy at nquidachay@jasandiego.org.

About Junior Achievement of San Diego
Junior Achievement of San Diego (JA) has been inspiring and equipping San Diego youth to achieve economic success by planning for their futures and making informed academic and career choices since 1950. By deploying proven, experiential programs like BizTown program, JA also reaches more than 30,000 students annually through programs such as BizTown, Finance Park, and the JA Company program which help students build financial literacy, work-readiness, and entrepreneurship skills. Annually, more than 4,000 volunteers serve as role models and enable JA to deliver experiential programs to students in 36 county school districts.

Media Contact

Catherine Van Weele
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
cvanweele@jasandiego.org
(619) 906-4909