Waverly, Norris High Schools Win Nebraska Economics Challenge

Teams of students from Waverly and Norris high schools won the Adam Smith and David Ricardo divisions at the Nebraska Economics Challenge April 17 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The victories earned the teams all-expense-paid trips to Minneapolis April 24-25 to compete in the Regional Economics Challenge. The regional winners will receive individual savings bonds and all-expense-paid trips to New York City for the National Economics Challenge May 22-24.

The Waverly team of Andrew Fulton, Anthony Fulton, Jordan Hofker and Ramsey Young was coached by Bret Harpster. The Norris team of Andrew Keralis, Jonah Knepper, Shane Lowe and Jared Wiggins was coached by Sid Conrad.

The runner-up team in the Adam Smith Division was the Omaha Central team of Adam Cornish, Eve Mayberger, Caitlin Monaghan and Cecily Zdan, coached by Vicki Deniston-Reed. The runner-up in the David Ricardo Division was the Aurora team of Ashley MacCarthy, John Thomas, Joe Troester and Tim Van Housen, coached by Dave Long.

The event tested teams of high school economics students on their economics knowledge. Students divided into two divisions and competed in four rounds. The first three rounds consisted of an assessment of knowledge of topics related to macroeconomics (the study of the economy as a whole), microeconomics (the study of the economic behavior of individuals, businesses and industries) and international economics. They individually answered multiple-choice questions and a team score was comprised of the top three individual scores. Following the first three rounds, the highest two team scores in each division advanced to the final round where they orally answer questions using a quiz-bowl format.

The event was sponsored by the Nebraska Council on Economic Education, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the economic literacy of Nebraska's students. This goal is achieved primarily through economic education programs, courses and workshops for educators across the state. The Federal Reserve Bank of Omaha-Kansas City Branch and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce co-sponsored the event.

The Nebraska Economics Challenge will again be offered to all Nebraska economics teachers and their students next year.

Other participating teams were:

Lincoln Northeast: Cuong Duong, Caitlyn Potter and Lindsey Tomes, coached by Carol Mathias.

Omaha Central: (second team) Shay Hampton, Chris Peterson and Dena Rennard, coached by Deniston-Reed.

Norris: (second team) Kyle Lococo, Shane Lowe and Andrea Wiggins, coached by Conrad.

Waverly: (second team) Ryan Ebke, Alicia Fulton, Mitch Lemprecht, Elizabeth Porath and Jenni Thompson, coached by Harpster.

CONTACT: Tammie Fischer, Director, Center for Economic Education, (402) 472-2333