They displayed an astute business acumen well beyond their years.

Three St. John Neumann Regional School students recently flourished in a Stock Market Challenge Competition sponsored by the Mauch Chunk Trust Company.

Seventh-grader Ian Walck won the Middle School Division, while eighth-grader Delia Winas finished second, and seventh-grader Aidan Winas was third.

School Principal Mary Comensky explained how the students were able to succeed.

“They met virtually every Wednesday during the time of the competition to work together to build a portfolio,” Comensky said. “During the pandemic, they found the way under the direction of a parent volunteer to meet as an after school activity and continue learning while not necessarily being in school.”

Comensky applauded the students for their approach and willingness.

“It was something they asked to do, and were willing to do it virtually on their own time after school,” she said. “It’s very exciting, pretty cool.”

The Stock Market Challenge Competition is organized through nonprofit Brighter Financial Futures (dba PennCFL).

The Pennsylvania Council on Financial Literacy makes its world-class, web-based stock simulation platform and curriculum available to all Pennsylvania students in grades K-12.

Students can learn how to trade all year long by using the entire curriculum, courses and more, including two 10-week competitions. The platform provides lessons, assignments and grading for seamless teacher management, with competitions held in the classroom, by county and statewide.

The cutting-edge, real-time stock game is derived from Stock-Trak’s University Platform, which is used in over 80% of the top business schools in the United States.

PennCFL’s mission is to provide K-12 students with economics, personal finance and entrepreneurship skills that have the potential to elevate their standard of living, quality of life and professional success.

It showcases exceptional talent from business, education and government. The nonprofit organization is passionate about teaching young people solid financial management and entrepreneurial skills.

Many families in our area struggle to make ends meet; our goal is to break that pattern by instilling a firm sense of financial competency and responsibility in the next generation.

PennCFL’s goal is to be the leader in K-12 financial literacy and entrepreneurship education. For additional information, contact Alan Dakey, president, at ADakey@Penn­CFL.org, or Carolyn Shirk, vice president, at CShirk@PennCFL.org; call 570-975-5149; or visit them online at DreamLearnPitch.org or PennCFL.org.