The University of Maryland’s first Stock Market Challenge is a stock market simulation
that will give participants the opportunity to gain financial experience by managing
accounts.
Sponsored by the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and the Honors College,
Stock Market Challenge is a free competition open to all University System of Maryland
students, faculty and staff and Honors College Alumni.
This is an expansion of Dr. Eric Wish’s honors stock market classes, which he has been
teaching for six years.
“We have learned that there is a huge desire and appetite among students, and even
faculty and staff, to learn more about how to manage risk in the stock market and how to
do personal finance planning,” Wish said during the challenge’s orientation webinar.
Participants will be given an initial pretend account of $100,000 with a margin of 50
percent. This allows participants to invest up to $200,000 with equity of $100,000.
Through investing and trading, participants will learn how to manage their pretend
accounts.
The Davis Foundation has provided $850 in cash awards that will be given out to top
earners in the Stock Market Challenge. Eligible participants can win award money of
$400, $250, $100, and $50. The cash prizes will be awarded on May 4.
“While we have cash prizes to make it interesting, it really is an opportunity for you to
expand your financial literacy education,” Wish said. “We really want you to use the
resources, to ask questions, to really try and take this time so by the time you graduate
you really do have some idea about the stock market.”
Registration runs from Feb. 20 through March 7. The trading competition will last from
Feb. 28 until April 29.