Omaha Central, Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer win Econ Challenge

Omaha Central and Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer high schools were the top winners in the first fall Economics Challenge staged Nov. 30-Dec. 7 by the Nebraska Council on Economic Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

More than 250 students from across Nebraska competed for cash prizes in two divisions: David Ricardo for students new to economics and Adam Smith for the veterans.

Omaha Central teams coached by Victoria Deniston-Reed took the top three places in the Adam Smith Division, while the HTRS team coached by Joan Dreier won the David Ricardo Division.

Following is a list of the top teams in each division, their teachers and their prizes.

Adam Smith Division -- 1, Omaha Central Team 1, Deniston-Reed, $25 cash prize and Econ Challenge T-shirt for each team member; 2, Omaha Central Team 5, Deniston-Reed, $15 cash prize and Econ Challenge T-shirt for each team member; 3, Omaha Central Team 2, Deniston-Reed, $10 cash prize and Econ Challenge T-shirt for each team member; 4, Prague, Clif Matson, Econ Challenge T-shirt for each team member.

David Ricardo Division -- (same prize structure as Adam Smith) 1, HTRS, Dreier; 2, Arthur County, Lynn Channer; 3, Elkhorn, Nick Jarzynka; 4, Spalding, Thomas Erickson.

The council will offer a spring EconChallenge online March 8 through March 14. The top 10 teams from each division will be invited to compete at the state finals March 28 at the Nebraska Champions Club. Additional information about the online EconChallenge may be found at www.econchallenge.org. Additional information on the Nebraska Council on Education may be found at www.nebraskacouncil.org.