US High School Students Solve The Euro's Challenges?

News provided by

Delegation of the European Union to the United States

Apr 21, 2011, 02:17 ET

American High School Teams from 15 States Compete in the 2011 Euro Challenge

American high school students are poised to help solve Europe's economic problems, as teams from 25 high schools gather at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on April 27th to compete in the semi-final and final round of this year's Euro Challenge competition

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Now in its sixth year, the Euro Challenge is an academic contest that provides 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 US – and the economies that share its single currency, the euro. Participants showcase their knowledge of everything from ballooning government deficits to rising unemployment, and make policy recommendations to solve these and other challenges confronting 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. The competition continues to expand nationally. This year, 79 high school teams from 15 states (Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Wisconsin) have participated in the contest. Preliminary regional competitions concluded on April 7th with 25 schools advancing to the finals on April 27th.

"I am proud to support a program that encourages young Americans to learn about the challenges confronting the economies of Europe, and what countries that share the euro are doing to overcome these challenges," said Ambassador Joao Vale de Almeida, Head of the European Union Delegation to the United States. "Many of the challenges that euro area countries face are similar to those facing the United States. 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. Over the past six years, the Euro Challenge has reached thousands of American high school students, teaching them valuable lessons about the European Union and why strong transatlantic relations are so crucial. The competition brings the EU to life, better than any text book or website, and it fosters a life-long interest in economics and the EU-US partnership."

The 9th and 10th 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" (the 17 EU member countries that have adopted the euro so far), and then focus on an economic challenge confronting one member country of the euro. The challenges range from debt and deficits to high unemployment and slow growth. Teams make recommendations on how to solve these challenges and must answer questions from a distinguished panel of judges to showcase their grasp of economic issues.

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.

"Moody's is proud of its continued support of the Euro Challenge," said Frances G. Laserson, president of The Moody's Foundation. "This competition enables the next generation to see the value in acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary to understand global economic issues."

The Euro Challenge is a program launched and supported by the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. The national coordinator of the competition is w!se (Working in Support of Education).

Other partner organizations include:

The Moody's Foundation;
Credit Suisse;
The Federal Reserve Banks of New York, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta (Miami branch) and Cleveland (Pittsburgh branch);
European Union Centers of Excellence at Florida International University/University of Miami, the University of North Carolina, University of Michigan, and the University of Pittsburgh;
The European Union Centers at the University of Illinois, University of Wisconsin and University of Indiana;
The European Union Studies Center at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Of the 25 teams competing at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in the semi-final round the morning of April 27, five teams will advance to the final round of the competition held in the afternoon the same day.

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

Wethersfield High School, CT
Coral Reef Senior High School, FL
Marine & Oceanographic Academy, FL
Miami Palmetto Senior High School, FL
Valley High School, IA
Bedford High School, MA
International Academy – Central, MI
East Brunswick High School, NJ
Indian Hills High School, NJ
Montclair High School, NJ
Mount Saint Mary Academy, NJ
Princeton High School, NJ
Rumson-Fair Haven High School, NJ
Westfield High School, NJ
Rutgers Preparatory School, NJ
Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, NY
Bronx High School of Science, NY
George W. Hewlett High School, NY
Herricks High School, NY
High School for Math, Science & Engineering, NY
Oceanside High School, NY
Baldwin High School, PA
North Allegheny Intermediate High School, PA
Collegiate School, VA
East High School, WI