CHAPIN, SC – Chapin Intermediate School student Ethan Harder has won second place in the InvestWrite national writing competition. This marks the second consecutive year a student from Chapin Intermediate has been a national winner.
“I was shocked – I couldn’t believe that I was the winner,” Harder said.
Each year, schools that have students registered for The Stock Market Game™ program can participate in the innovative national writing competition. InvestWrite adds a critical thinking component to help reinforce concepts learned in the classroom. Students participate by writing essays in their grade division which consists of elementary (4-5 grades), middle school (6-8 grades) and high school (9-12 grades). Harder’s essay was on the Starbucks Corporation.
Harder was surprised with the announcement in the middle of class when principal Vann Holden interrupted class with special guests. Jim Morris and Amanda Stiglbauer from South Carolina Economics presented Harder with a massive trophy, medal and a brand new laptop. Harder’s family was also in attendance to surprise him.
“I am so proud of Ethan for winning this essay contest,” said Chapin Intermediate math teacher Yvonne Strange. “It takes a lot of preparation, perseverance and passion to do this. I am amazed that I have had a national winner two years in a row. This shows that the time and effort in teaching them financial literacy really pays off in multiple ways!”
This year’s InvestWrite prompt had students choose one corporation that began as a sole proprietorship or partnership that eventually grew and became incorporated. Students had to research the origins of the company, its growth and products or services, and the details of the incorporation process.
Also in the essay, students were required to research to see if the company was included in mutual funds and if it had ever issued bonds. They also had to analyze the future potential earnings of the company and determine if they would recommend it to others for investment purposes.
“Our Chapin Intermediate School family is so proud of Ethan for being named a national winner in the InvestWrite writing competition,” said Chapin Intermediate School principal Vann Holden. “For our school to have national winners for two straight years just verifies the hard work and dedication our teachers, students, staff and community put into each and every day!”
