Metro-Area Students Receive Awards and Recognition from Allianz Life
Students from seven schools participating in The Stock Market Game™ (SMG) were recently recognized for having top-ranked teams in the special Minnesota SMG Allianz Challenge Session.
The SMG Allianz Challenge is an interactive learning program for students in grades 4-12 and is managed in Minnesota by BestPrep, a local nonprofit. Students work in teams to invest a virtual $100,000 over a 14-week period, competing with other Minnesota students for the highest-valued portfolio.
This spring, 30 classes from 13 schools participated in the SMG Allianz Challenge, and each classroom was matched with an Allianz Life employee volunteer. As part of their volunteer role, employees visited their classes earlier in the year to present on the fundamentals of investing in the stock market and provide email support throughout the session.
The program helps students develop important real-world skills, like money management, economics, and critical thinking. The SMG Allianz Challenge is part of a partnership with Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life®).
Thanks to this partnership, the company has provided funding for nearly ten years to cover the cost of SMG team fees for all schools participating. Without this funding, many schools would be unable to participate in SMG. Because SMG uses an online platform, students were able to continue their participation during distance learning.
“The Stock Market Game is unique because students are actually engaging in the stock market in real time. Students see the effect of the financial choices they make, allowing them to understand and make connections to factors that impact the market, which is knowledge that benefit them long-term,” said Stephanie Musgrove, Program Manager at BestPrep.
Winning teams in the Elementary Division included:
- Edinbrook Elementary, 1st place team
- Oak Point Elementary, 2nd and 5th place teams
- Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion, 3rd place team
- Excelsior Elementary, 4th place team
Winning teams in the High School Division included:
- Louis Park High School, 1st and 4th place teams
- Stillwater Area High School, 2nd and 3rd place teams
- Mound Westonka High School, 5th place team
Six other schools in the metro area also participated in this special session of SMG, including Burroughs Elementary, Clear Springs Elementary, Clover Ridge Elementary, Palmer Lake Elementary, and Rush Creek Elementary.
Due to stay-at-home orders and distance learning, students and teachers were invited to participate in a virtual celebration. The winning teams were recognized with video messages from their volunteers and a special congratulator message from Walter White, Allianz Life President and CEO. Congratulatory video messages and more information online.
For more information about or to participate in The Stock Market Game, contact Stephanie Musgrove at smusgrove@bestprep.org. The SMG is run nationally by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Foundation and in Minnesota by BestPrep.
About BestPrep
BestPrep is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing students with business, career and financial literacy skills through hands-on experiences that inspire success in work and life through seven innovative programs. Since 1976, the organization has served more than 1.6 million Minnesota students and teachers. For more information, visit www.bestprep.org.
About Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® and one of the Ethisphere 2020 World’s Most Ethical Companies®, has been keeping its promises since 1896 by helping Americans achieve their retirement income and protection goals with a variety of annuity and life insurance products. In 2019, Allianz Life provided additional value to its policyholders via distributions of more than $10.4 billion. As a leading provider of fixed index annuities, Allianz Life is part of Allianz SE, a global leader in the financial services industry with over 147,000 employees in more than 70 countries. Allianz Life is a proud sponsor of Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, home of Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United.