Lincoln High School Students Earn 2nd & 3rd Place Finishes at Junior Achievement’s Stock Market Challenge

The Ellwood City Area School District made headlines last Friday as two teams of local students from Lincoln High School earned 2nd and 3rd place finishes at the Junior Achievement’s Stock Market Challenge presented by Citizens.

The two-day, high-energy financial literacy competition took place at Stage AE in Pittsburgh on December 11th and 12th.

The second and third place team beat out 75 teams/259 students during Friday’s competition to claim top spots. Each team took home cash prizes and bragging rights.

Ellwood City was represented by its 2nd place team of Tyler Smiley, Drake Davis, Andy Lin, and Aaron Lake. The 3rd place team included AJ Smith, Carson Colao, DaiLonn Currie, and Jackson Kerr.

The event brought together a grand total of 538 high school students from across western Pennsylvania, immersing them in a fast-paced simulation of real-world stock market investing, teamwork, and strategic decision-making.

Throughout the two days, students competed in teams of three to four, managing virtual investment portfolios in a live trading simulation designed to mirror real market conditions. Each “day” of trading lasted just 60 seconds, requiring students to think critically, communicate effectively, and adapt quickly to market fluctuations.

Day One winners were Deer Lakes High School, earning top honors for their strategic performance on Thursday. On Day Two, Greater Latrobe Senior High School claimed first place and ultimately emerged as the overall 2025 JA Stock Market Challenge champion, achieving the highest return on investment across both days of competition and earning the chance to compete in the national competition in Boston next year.

Students Craig Patterson, Dom Hogue, Nate Kennedy & Anthony Barberio

“This educational event gave students the chance to see classroom lessons come alive— concepts like inflation, mergers and acquisitions, and market trends became real and tangible,” said Patrice Matamoros, President of Junior Achievement of Western PA. “These hands-on experiences build confidence and life-long financial skills that prepare young people for success beyond high school, and we’re grateful to Citizens, our partners, and educators for believing in the next generation”

The event was made possible through the continued partnership with Citizens, whose commitment to financial empowerment helps JA deliver hands-on, relevant learning experiences to students throughout the region.

“At Citizens, we’re committed to helping people build brighter financial futures,” said Mark Rendulic, Western Pennsylvania Market President, Citizens. “By expanding Junior

Achievement’s Stock Market Challenge, we’re investing in financial empowerment through hands‑on education—giving students across western Pennsylvania the tools and confidence to make informed decisions today and for the long term.”

In addition to the competition, students benefited from JA’s Take Stock in Your Future curriculum, which introduces core concepts such as investing, market trends, risk management, and long-term financial planning. The experience also supports Pennsylvania’s upcoming personal financial literacy graduation requirement under Act 35 of 2023.

With the support of volunteers, educators, and corporate partners, the JA Stock Market Challenge continues to grow as a signature workforce readiness and financial literacy event for western Pennsylvania.

For more information about Junior Achievement of Western PA and its programs, visit jawesternpa.org.

About Junior Achievement of Western PA:

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices.

JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship.