Students from Ridgefield High School (Ridgefield, CT) Rise to the Euro Challenge

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Delegation of the European Union to the United States

Apr 12, 2013, 05:54 ET

Five High School Teams Receive Dollars for Proving Euro Knowledge

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At the final round of this year's Euro Challenge competition, held today at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, five teams emerged as the winners. Students from Ridgefield High School, Ridgefield, CT, (1^st place), St. Joseph High School, South Bend, IN, (2^nd place), Marlboro High School, Marlboro, NJ, (3^rd place), High School for Math, Science & Engineering, New York, NY, (4^th place), and International Academy Okma, Bloomfield Hills, MI, (5^th place) beat top teams from 20 other high schools on the final day of intense competition. The Euro Challenge is a unique and exciting educational opportunity for high school students from across the United States to learn about the European Union - the largest economic partner of the U.S. - and the 17 countries that share its single currency, the euro. Participants showcase their specific knowledge of countries in the euro area and make policy recommendations to rein in deficits and debt, reduce unemployment, or solve other challenges confronting these countries.

The winning teams will receive monetary awards provided by the Moody's Foundation, along with a trip to Washington, D.C. for the top two teams.

"It is truly impressive to see how engaged and knowledgeable these students are and what creative solutions they propose for some of our most urgent economic challenges," said Ambassador Joao Vale de Almeida, Head of the European Union Delegation to the United States, at the award ceremony. "The competition has reached thousands of young Americans. It's a great learning experience for these students as they go beyond the headlines of economic news to fully understand key economic concepts and the complex realities faced by policymakers. By learning how Europe is dealing with these challenges, the Euro Challenge helps young Americans to have a better understanding of how Europe and America are deeply connected."

The Euro Challenge fosters a better understanding of the European economy and transatlantic economic relations, and it supports local learning objectives in economics and finance. Launched in 2006, the competition continues to expand nationally. This year, more than one hundred high school teams from 17 states plus the District of Columbia participated in the program. Preliminary regional competitions concluded in March, with 25 schools advancing to the finals on April 12.

The Euro Challenge is a program launched and supported by the Delegation of the European Union to the United States, and is managed on the Delegation's behalf by w!se (Working in Support of Education). The Federal Reserve Bank of New York serves as program advisor.

Other partner organizations include: Credit Suisse, the University of North Carolina, Florida International University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Illinois, Rutgers University, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (Pittsburgh Branch), the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (Detroit Branch), George Washington University, the DC World Affairs Council and the University of Texas at Austin.