U.S. High School Students Compete in 2015 Euro Challenge

News provided by

Delegation of the European Union to the United States

Apr 29, 2015, 04:05 ET

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the European economy making a comeback, American high school students are recommending how to further enhance growth and job creation in the European Union. Teams from 25 high schools will gather at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on April 30 to compete in the semi-final and final rounds of this year's Euro Challenge competition.

The Euro Challenge is a unique 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 19 countries that share its single currency, the euro. Participants showcase their specific knowledge of countries in the euro area and make economic policy recommendations to rein in deficits and debt, reduce unemployment, or find other creative solutions for these countries.

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 2005, the competition marks its tenth year as it continues to expand nationally. This year, more than one hundred high school teams from 15 states (California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin) plus the District of Columbia participated in the program. Preliminary regional competitions concluded at the end of March, with 25 schools advancing to the finals on April 30. These 25 schools are competing in the semi-final round the morning of April 30th, and five of them will advance to the final round held the afternoon of the same day.

"It's impressive to see so many students from across the United States compete at such a high level," said Ambassador David O'Sullivan, Head of the European Union Delegation to the United States. "The Euro Challenge is a great learning experience for hundreds of participating students as they go beyond the headlines of economic news to fully understand key economic concepts and the complex realities faced by policymakers. They gain a unique insight into the Euro Zone economy and the strength of transatlantic economic relations."

The 9^th and 10^th grade students have spent months researching European economic policy and history with the help of mentors from their schools and resources provided by the EU Delegation. In the competition, teams of three to five students make presentations about the economic situation of the "euro area" and then focus on an economic challenge facing one country. Teams must answer questions from a distinguished panel of judges to showcase their grasp of economic issues and economic policy trade-offs.

Of the 25 teams competing at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in the semi-final round the morning of April 30, five teams will advance to the final round of the competition held in the afternoon the same day.

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

The following schools are competing in the semi-final round:

Bergen County Academies	NJ
Delbarton School	NJ
Felix Varela Senior HS	FL
First Baptist Christian Academy	TX
Garden City High School	NY
George W. Hewlett High School	NY
High School for Math, Science & Engineering	NY
High Technology High School	NJ
International Academy- Okma Campus	MI
Lexington High School	MA
Montclair High School	NJ
Mount Saint Mary Academy	NJ
Naperville Central HS	IL
Newton South HS	MA
Normal Community HS	IL
Pittsburgh Allderdice HS	PA
Princeton High School	NJ
Sachem North High School	NY
Sacred Heart Academy	NY
Stuyvesant High School	NY
Terry Sanford HS	NC
Trinity Preparatory School	FL
Urbana HS	MD
Verona High School	NJ
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North	NJ

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.

The Euro Challenge is supported by BNP Paribas, the University of North Carolina, Florida International University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Illinois, the University of Texas at Austin, Rutgers University, George Washington University, the DC World Affairs Council, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (Pittsburgh Branch), the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Detroit Branch, and Learning Economics and Finance Network, Inc. (LEAF).