High schools place in Montana Chamber’s Challenge

Western Montana high schools have fared well in a statewide competition intended to hone their business skills while giving them the opportunity to learn about the volatility and possibilities of the stock market.

By MICK HOLIEN of the Missoulian

Teams from Missoula’s Big Sky High School placed fifth and 10th in the fall edition of the Business Challenge, sponsored by the Montana Chamber of Commerce Foundation and administered over eight weeks by the Montana Council on Economic Education. A team from Corvallis High School placed ninth.

Here’s how it works:

At the start of competition, teams of three to five students receive a fictional stock price of $25. They then make decisions in marketing and advertising, production and inventory, research and development, pricing and ethics, all which affect the bottom line and thus raise or lower the value of their imaginary company’s stock.

A two-student team from Laurel High School finished the session, which represents eight quarters or two years of business operation, with a stock price of $119.90. C.M. Russell took second with a stock price of $100.25, while Fergus County of Lewistown claimed third with a price of $100.02.

Big Sky’s top teams finished with ending stock prices of $95.78 and $87.08 while among the school’s 12 teams, prices ranged down to $15.01. A team from the Missoula high school won the spring 2001 semester competition.

Hamilton High School’s six teams ranged from $62.66 to $12, while four teams from Victor High School finished with prices from $12 to $36.60.

Twenty teams posted the lowest session scores of $12.

"We wish the national stock market could mirror what these students have done," said Webb Brown, president-CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce.

The top three teams received cash and other prizes and the winning Laurel High School team was invited to the Montana Chamber’s Business Days Jan. 8 at the Capitol in Helena.

"We just want people to have the experience of what it’s like to run a business and some of the decisions that have to be made," said Brown. "We’re trying to get across to ask students to stop and think what’s it’s like to be in a business person’s shoes, so we think from that perspective it definitely accomplishes that goal."

The Business Challenge is a spin-off of the former week-long Business Week Program held for 18 years at Montana State University.

While available to all students, the program proved costly and other competition for student time prompted the elimination of the 18-year-old program after the 1998 academic year.

"We think going into the classroom and doing it once a week for eight weeks, it not only makes a greater impression but it’s available for more kids," said Brown. "We’re excited with the way it’s evolved."

Students are encouraged to take risks but learn there are consequences to their actions.

"Students learn the fundamentals of business in a dynamic and competitive, but controlled environment," said Tim Alzheimer, Business Challenge coordinator for the Council on Economic Education. "It’s OK to make a mistake and learn from it."

"While we certainly use stock prices as one measure of their education, the bottom line is that we hope participants gain a better understanding and appreciation of business operation," added Brown.

In all, 457 students on 130 teams from 23 schools participated in the fall 2003 competition, but the number of schools taking part is increasing as word of the program gets out.

Hellgate, Superior, Drummond and Stevensville high schools are planning to join the spring semester.

"We continue to see more schools and more students each time," Brown said.

The key, however, is to find a teacher who spearheads the effort.

"Business people can support and want it in the schools, the administration can say ‘it’s a great thing,’ and the kids may want to do it, but if the teacher isn’t there to support it and sponsor it, you don’t get it done," said Brown. "That’s the real key for us."

If you’re interested

For more information about the Business Challenge, contact Webb Brown, (406) 442-2405, Ext. 101 or at [email protected].

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