Montezuma team takes third in State Economics Challenge

       The Montezuma High School State Economic Challenge team of, from left: Cruz De Jong, Alivia Cline, Madison Van Zee and Jadyn Sharer battled hard against some bigger schools, finishing the competition in third place overall on Wednesday, April 10 in Des Moines. The students qualified for the state competition during an online semifinals in the fall.

         Montezuma High School students participated in the National Economics Challenge, sponsored by the Council for Economic Education on Wednesday, April 10. After a successful semifinal competition in the fall, by way of an online test, the team of Jadyn Sharer, Madison Van Zee, Alivia Cline, and Cruz De Jong advanced to the state competition held at DMACC Urban Campus along with 14 other teams in attendance.
      The in-person final was made up of multiple stages. First, students took an individual 20-question Microeconomics exam, with scores from the exam adding to a cumulative team score throughout the competition. The Montezuma team finished second on this test, a sigh of relief from what was a very hard exam.
       After that, the students individually took a 12-question Macroeconomics test, with scores once again adding to the cumulative team score. Montezuma placed second after this test as well, opening their eyes to the chance they had to finish near the top of the competition.
        The last section of the state final test was a 12-question International Economics exam, which they were able to take collectively as one team. The group finished fourth overall on this section, bringing them to a total team finish in third place. 
       "Finishing just one question behind the state runner-up team with four students taking three tests was a bummer, as the kids worked really hard  and I would've loved to see them bring home a trophy, but our crew battled head-to-head with AP Economics classes from Ankeny Centennial and Iowa City High, and they exceeded my expectations, noted advisor Kevin Gartman. 
      Four teams from Montezuma will head back to the DMACC Urban campus in a week for the National Personal Finance Challenge state competition on April 17.