Crestline students rock Alabama Stock Market Games, poster contest
Special to the Enquirer
Third and fourth grade students from Crestline Elementary have achieved notable success in the recent “Color the Concepts!” contest and the Alabama Stock Market Game.
Raydyn Morris, a fourth grade student at Crestline Elementary, was awarded the title of Alabama Grand Champion in the “Color the Concepts” contest. His illustration earned him a $100 grand prize. Additionally, Morris was one of the Top Ten winners in the Grades 4-8 Division, securing an additional $50. Another young artist from Crestline, Miken Draper, a third grade student, received Honorable Mention, earning a prize for his effort.
Michael Holifield, a State Farm Agent in Hartselle, presented the awards at a ceremony held at Crestline, recognizing the achievements of these talented students. Their teacher, Dr. Debbie Lee was also acknowledged with a $100 Amazon e-card for her guidance and support.
The “Color the Concepts!” contest, organized by the Alabama Council on Economic Education (ACEE) and supported by State Farm, encourages K-8 students across Alabama to illustrate economic concepts creatively. This year, the contest received more than 700 submissions. The Top Ten illustrations were turned into posters and distributed to schools statewide, highlighting the students’ artistic talents. The Grand Champion was selected based on the number of “likes” their illustration received on the ACEE Facebook page.
Crestline Elementary students also excelled in the Alabama Stock Market Game. The team, led by Raydyn Morris as team captain, and comprising Lane Morehead and Greyson Barrier, placed fourth out of 566 teams in the North Region. The Stock Market Game is an online simulation that teaches students about global capital markets, investing and personal finance.
Competing against middle school teams and even surpassing some, Morris’s team amassed an impressive $109,537.62. The students reflected on their experience, highlighting the valuable lessons they learned about stocks, investments, and teamwork.
“I learned that a stock is a small portion of a company and that stocks can be either good or bad…meaning they either make you money or they don’t,” Leyla Bawolek said. RaJah Doaty remarked, “Investing is good because you learn about money and businesses, which are valuable life lessons. My favorite part was calculating the numbers and watching my investments grow.”
Greyson Barrier enjoyed “checking my stocks daily and watching them grow.” Talon Way and Lucy Hulgan appreciated “getting to work as a team and the challenge of picking winning stocks.” Hannah Smallwood found joy in “researching stocks, watching them for a while, and then picking the best ones.”
The ACEE aims to enhance understanding of economics, personal finance, and entrepreneurship through balanced and comprehensive teacher education programs and advocacy. This education empowers students to become informed and responsible adults capable of making sound financial decisions.
For more information about ACEE programs and professional development, visit www.EconAlabama.org.
