Students from St. Cloud Technical High School coached by economics teacher Craig Swanberg placed second in the Adam Smith division of the Heartland Economics Challenge last week at St. Cloud State University. The team of students Grant Spanier, Jack Hedlund, Gary Gohmann, and James Kustritz placed second in the regional competition and will be at the April 15 state contest at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul campus. The students answered questions on microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economics; they participated in a quiz-bowl competition with teams of students from other high schools. There are two divisions – Adam Smith division for students studying economics in advanced placement and year-long economics classes; and the David Ricardo division for students studying economics as part of social studies, business, or other high school class. State winners in each division continue to the Regional finals in Houston, Texas on April 27, where they compete for $1,000 U.S. Savings Bonds and an all-expense paid trip to the National Economics Challenge in New York City. “The Challenge is very exciting to watch. It forces students to solve difficult problems based on real life issues. I am impressed by the brilliance of these students,” said Claudia Parliament, Executive Director of the Minnesota Council on Economic Education.
“Minnesota has excellent economics teachers and students. Minnesota has had more student teams reach the national finals during the past eight years than any other state.” Economics Challenge is hosted by the Minnesota Council on Economic Education. It is the only national economics competition for high school students. Its purpose is to honor and reward student high-achievers through competition and showcase outstanding high school economics courses and teachers.
