Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge in El Paso for the first time

Community News

El Paso, Texas, foundation
Helping to stage the Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge were employee volunteers from Marathon Petroleum’s El Paso refinery: (L-R) Operations Excellence Supervisor James Hutchinson, Reliability Supervisor Andrea Martinez, Principal Corporate Social Responsibility & Community Relations Representative V.J. Smith, Human Resources Director Ian Sparkman, Senior Human Resources Business Partner Mariel Rodriguez, Shift Foreman Allison Garcia and Lead Scheduler Angelica Ponce. 

Key Points

  • The Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge recently took place in El Paso, Texas, for the first time, exposing high school students to the basics of investing and related careers.
  • The event allows student teams to manage virtual investment portfolios, making choices to buy and sell stocks in real-time based on simulated market conditions.
  • Marathon Petroleum’s El Paso refinery made it possible to stage the challenge through its title sponsorship and assistance from refinery employee volunteers.

It may have been a long way from the 16,000-square-foot trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, but a recent trading simulation in El Paso, Texas, introduced local high school students to market dynamics that are in play on Wall Street every day. The simulation marked the first time the Junior Achievement (JA) Stock Market Challenge had taken place in the city.

“Students participate in a simulated stock market environment through trading and portfolio management intended to help improve decision-making skills and provide understanding of economic principles,” JA of El Paso President Lupe Mares said. “The program's purpose is also to expose students to potential careers in finance and investing.”

More than 160 students from seven high schools participated in the half-day challenge at a community event center. After a pre-event orientation, student teams managed virtual investment portfolios, making choices to buy and sell stocks based on simulated market conditions.

Marathon Petroleum’s El Paso refinery made the stock market challenge possible as the title sponsor, allowing the event to take place in El Paso for the first time.

“Participants learn to interpret business news, company reports and economic indicators to inform their investment decisions,” said Mares. “The challenge can incorporate time constraints and unexpected news updates that require quick thinking as in real financial markets.”

Marathon Petroleum’s El Paso refinery made the event possible as the title sponsor. Refinery employee volunteers served as market news runners and floor traders, and also printed portfolios when students requested them. Refinery Human Resources Director Ian Sparkman provided welcoming remarks and rang the bell to launch the day of trading.

“One teacher told me she just didn’t know how to teach securities and exchange to her class, and this came at a very critical time.”

“We were eager to support this event because it introduces students to concepts and career possibilities that many of them may not have explored otherwise,” Sparkman said. “It was exciting to watch students work together to apply the knowledge they gained in making critical decisions.” 

Mares pointed out that the stock market challenge strengthens the curriculum behind JA’s core function of promoting financial literacy, work and career readiness and entrepreneurship.

“One teacher told me she just didn’t know how to teach securities and exchange to her class, and this came at a very critical time,” Mares said. “The impact of JA experiences is profound. Former participants, now successful professionals, often share testimonials about JA’s crucial role in shaping their career choices and financial acumen.”

More than 160 students from seven high schools participated in the stock market challenge, which allowed them to manage virtual investment portfolios in real-time based on simulated market conditions.