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New-Bridge Integrated College students win stock exchange contest24/03/2009
Young financial masterminds from New-Bridge Integrated College, Banbridge, have demonstrated their stockbroking skill and won the annual Fantasy Share Race, run by Rensburg Sheppards and the Belfast Telegraph.
This year a record 33 schools from all around Northern Ireland took part in the competition, which ran between October and February, but New-Bridge would eventually storm to victory.
The contest rules were simple. Each team of students entered was given an imaginary £100,000 with which they could buy shares in companies listed on the FTSE 350.
Every month the teams had the opportunity to trade their shares and make changes to their portfolios. If the value of these shares increased the school would then climb up a league table.
The New-Bridge team was made up of eight members from the Year 14 Business Studies class. They were Amber-Lea Ardis, Ryan Berry, Ryan Best, Aiobhin Canavan, Danielle Kennedy, Rachael Kerr, Matthew McGrath and Daniel Quinn, under the watchful eye of Mrs Jane Hanna, Head of Business Studies at the college.
After finishing in fourth place last year, the New-Bridge pupils were determined to be placed in the top three this time around and, to their delight, the news came through on Monday 16th February that they had won the competition.
The value of the team’s shares had increased to over £139,980 from £100,000, with a clear gap of almost £15,000 over the runner up school Campbell College.
New-Bridge Integrated College Principal Gerry Jones said: “All of us in the college community are immensely proud of our sixth form Business Studies students’ success in winning the Fantasy Share Race.
“Last year the students’ performance was outstanding with a high placing of fourth in the competition. However to win such a prestigious competition, beating off the challenge from some of the top schools in Northern Ireland, is a tremendous achievement for our college.
“I must congratulate all of the students in the team who, with the support of our Head of Business Studies Mrs Jane Hanna, gained victory by a considerable margin.
“At a time when financial, fiscal and economic matters are much in the headlines it is refreshing to see young people demonstrate skill and judgement in negotiating a very turbulent share market albeit in a mock situation.
“Well done to all the other schools who took part and special thanks to Belfast Telegraph and the sponsors for providing such a challenging and worthwhile competition.”
Two of the talented New-Bridge Business Studies students.
