The Utah Treasurer's Investment Challenge is a statewide investment competition for students in grades 4-12.
The program, administered by Office of State Treasurer and the Utah Financial Empowerment Coalition, is paid for by generous donations from community partners. There is no cost to teachers or their schools for students to participate.
What is the Utah Treasurer's Investment Challenge?
The Utah Treasurer's Investment Challenge is a simulation of Wall Street trading that provides a framework for teaching Utah students about the U.S. economy and financial markets. The challenge is designed for classroom use to help students understand the stock market, the costs and benefits involved in economic decision making, the sources and uses of capital, and other related economic concepts in an integrated manner with other curriculum. It is intended to be a catalyst for further study of and interest in free enterprise capitalism.
How does the Utah Treasurer's Investment Challenge Work?
For 10 weeks, during the fall and spring school semesters, students invest a hypothetical $100,000 in common stocks and diversified investment funds on the major exchanges. In a typical classroom setting, students form teams of three to five players and work interactively to research security selections.
Throughout the simulation, teams submit their transactions and can monitor their portfolios.
At the end of the simulation, three teams in each division are recognized at an awards banquet.
Spring Investment Challenge Sessions
Spring 2024: (February 5 - April 12, 2024)
Click on the links below to register:
For information on how to use the platform, check out this tutorial or reach out to amcgrath@utah.gov:
Rules
Participation is limited to Utah teachers and students (grades 4-12), homeschool, and afterschool program advisors.
A teacher must register using the links provided below, create teams, and provide instruction and oversight for students. Students may not register on their own. Teachers must have internet access and an email address.
Teams must make their first transaction by the end of the fifth week, or they will be eliminated from the game for that session.
To encourage diversification, teams are allowed to invest a maximum of 25% in a single company or fund.
A maximum of one team per teacher will be able to place in the game and attend the banquet.
Essay Contest
The Utah Treasurer's Investment Challenge Essay is a statewide writing competition administered by the Utah Office of State Treasurer and the Utah Financial Empowerment Coalition, intended for the participants of the Utah Treasurer's Investment Challenge. The essay contest will be hosted each semester, coinciding with the fall and spring game sessions.
Students will compete against other students in their division (Elementary, Middle/Jr. High, or High School) from across the state. Three winners from each division will be selected by the panel of judges and recognized at an awards banquet.
Essay topics and submission dates will be posted for Spring on February 5th, 2024.