Students from Montclair High School win the 2016 Euro Challenge

Our warmest congratulations to the Montclair High School team from New Jersey, which won this year’s Euro Challenge competition. The team from Ridgefield High School in Connecticut came in second place. Both teams will receive a trip to Washington DC, along with monetary awards provided by the Moody’s Foundation that went to all five finalists. Joel Barlow High School in Connecticut finished third, Mount Saint Mary Academy of New Jersey finished fourth, and International Academy – Okma Campus of Michigan came in fifth. The five finalists advanced from a field of twenty five teams that made the semifinal round of the Euro Challenge competition in particular competitive event. 

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 19 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.

“It was very impressive to watch today’s competition, to see how engaged and financially literate these students are and to hear how confidently they could present truly creative solutions for some of our most urgent economic challenges,” said Ambassador David O’Sullivan, Head of the European Union Delegation to the United States as he attended the award ceremony. “The Euro Challenge has been a great learning experience for thousands of students as they go beyond the headlines of economic news to fully understand key economic concepts and the complex realities faced by policymakers. The Euro Challenge also helps them to have a better understanding of how deeply Europe and America are 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 2005, the competition continues to expand nationally. This year, close to one hundred high school teams from 14 states (Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, 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.

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, Credit Suisse, Florida International University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Illinois, the University of Texas at Austin, Rutgers University, George Washington University, the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, the World Affairs Council of Seattle, the DC World Affairs Council, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (Pittsburgh Branch), the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Detroit Branch, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (Miami Branch) and Learning Economics and Finance Network, Inc. (LEAF).