Clarence High School Stock Market Club Promotes Financial Literacy

Students at Clarence High School are making an investment in their lifelong financial literacy and research skills as they take part in the school’s Stock Market Club.

“Being in the Stock Market Club teaches you to analyze, and that will help you in any field that you’re trying to do,” said Noah Garson, a senior who leads the club with fellow students Eric Michel and Aaron Ostrov. “It’s important to know your finances so you can be responsible and knowledgeable for life.” 

Members of the club, who are a part of the High School’s Academy of Business and Finance, meet throughout the year to talk about the markets and to hear from guest speakers from the local business community. The club also helps its members compete in local, regional and national stock market-related competitions. 

“Having these real-world experiences help foster long-term financial literacy, wealth building and understand risk vs reward dynamics, ultimately equipping students to manage their personal finances and prepare for their future,” said Heather Hartmann, a business teacher who leads the Academy of Business and Finance. 

During its meeting on February 5, members of the club prepared for an upcoming competition by talking about stocks that they were researching, and were encouraged to think about how they would diversify their portfolios in the competition. For junior Megan Ippolito, the club has given opportunities to experience markets in a guided way.

“It’s a good life skill to have, and I wanted to get some practice without having to use my own money,” she said. 

The club and its members have found success at competitions in the last year. Senior Arden Jalal recently finished second in the highly competitive statewide Stock Market Game competition organized by the SIFMA Foundation. Separately, Arden and fellow club member Ian Galas also finished in the top three of a Stock Market Challenge held by Junior Achievement of New York. Multiple teams from the club finished in the top five of a Junior Achievement of Western New York, Inc. held last May.

Jalal said his time in the club has encouraged him to read more about world news and market activities, and to talk with family members about how they view investments.

“The most important part of picking stocks is learning about the world around you,” he said. “It’s always about knowing and being ahead of others.”

Last spring, three teams from the club and academy finished in the top five at the JA Stock Market Challenge, a frenetic hour-long competition testing students’ abilities to navigate a simulated market and quickly react to market news.

More information about the academy can be found at https://www.clarenceschools.org/schools/clarence-high-school/academics/academy-of-business-and-finance/what-is-the-academy.