Faced with creating a family financial plan based on a fictional economic scenario, a group of O’Dowd seniors in Brian Cushing’s Economics class didn’t flinch.
Working in two teams, Kate Cherryhomes, Katie Bunn, Lily Weible and Sarah Lindorfer (Dragon 10), and Frankie Trevor, Ben Ngyuen and Mays Washington (Dragon 15), aced the California Personal Finance Challenge, sponsored by the California Council for Economic Education, held on April 4 at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
“The teams had to make a seven-minute presentation to a panel of experts,” Cushing said. “It was an intense day of research, collaboration, creativity, performance and learning for all involved.”
The all-girls team placed 3rd, becoming the first girls’ team to ever place at the state competition. Each team member took home a $100 prize for their efforts.
“This was a very valuable experience for me because I was able to learn so much about the world of economics and how financial advising works as well as strengthen my friendships with my team members,” Weible said.
Nguyen reflected on the value of the competition saying, “I learned a lot of different economic aspects that contribute to a person’s life and the complicated numbers involved with making sure that everything is balanced.”
Added Trevor, “The competition was an amazing experience that allowed me to grow not only as an economist but as a leader and as a person.”
