Sandburg Economics Team takes 1st place in State Stock Market Game

Four Carl Sandburg sophomores turned a virtual $100,000 into more than $155,000, beating teams across the state to take first place in the Spring 2026 Stock Market Game.

The winning team includes AP Microeconomics Brady Hoenig, Madelyn Kasmer, Foster Luckhard, and Mark Ruder. The team is coached by Economics teacher Christina Simpson.

The all-sophomore team started with a virtual investment of $100,000 and ended with more than $155,000 based on their investment decisions, a 55% return on their investments.

Economics teacher Christina Simpson says, “I use the game to teach the students about investing, the stock market, and business. I hope students have a better understanding of opportunities for investment, the balance of risk and reward, and stock market mechanics. It is also a fun way for students to collaborate and investigate current events, as well as build and utilize graph analysis and research skills.”

The Stock Market Game is sponsored by the SIFMA Foundation and is an online simulation of global capital markets that engages students in the world of economics, investing, and personal finance. In Illinois, it is sponsored by the Illinois Bankers Association. Simpson has been playing this game with students for nearly two decades.