2011 Competition Challenges Students on Personal Finance & Economics

In the 2011 Vermont Reserve Cup Challenge it was the lightning round that decided most of the matches. Returning as the defending champions, South Burlington High School brought an experienced team that was focused on winning the gold cup. Challenging South Burlington were teams from Fair Haven Union High School, a combined team from Green Mountain Technology and Career Center/Lamoille Valley Union High School, Montpelier High School, and Mt. Mansfield Union High School. At stake were bragging rights, possession of the large gold traveling trophy for one year, and a trip to the Boston Federal Reserve Bank to compete for Vermont for the regional title against teams from every state in New England. After a morning of preliminary matches, three teams competed in the championship round: South Burlington, Fair Haven, and the combined team from Lamoille Valley Union and the Green Mountain Tech Center. In a close match for the first two rounds, South Burlington entered the final lightning round with just a five point advantage. However, the previous experience of the South Burlington team allowed them to be quicker on the response buzzer and win the chance to answer the majority of the questions.

The winning 2011 team from South Burlington High School was coached by math teacher Eric Stone. Students competing for South Burlington were Sam Bellavance, Will Bugbee, Theophila Lee and Kevin Wang. Pictured at right, the team is joined by State Treasurer Beth Pearce, Director of Economic Education for the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Scott Guild, Vermont Jump$tart President Gregg Mousley and TD Bank Vice President for Government Banking Tim Minahan. Second place was won by the combined team of Lamoille Valley Union and Green Mountain TCC. Fair Haven Union High School finished third. 

Teachers: Do you want to enter a team in the next Challenge?

The next Vermont Reserve Cup Challenge, at present, is planned for late April 2012. However, the competition may be moved to early October 2012 if teachers indicate that would make it more likely they would enter a team. If you would like to be notified of the next Vermont Reserve Cup Challenge, send an email to Lisa Helme. The one-day academic competition gives teachers a way to challenge their students in a fun game-show-style competition. Individual trophies and ribbons are awarded to the first, second, and third place finishers. All participating students receive a certificate and can list their participation in the challenge on their college applications. For more information, view the competition description below.

Vermont Competition Description

Prizes

• The winning school wins the right to display the Vermont Reserve Cup, a gold traveling trophy, at their school until the next year's competition.
• Individual trophies for first, second, and third place teams.
• Certificates of participation for all participating students--useful in preparing college entrance applications.
• The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston pays to charter a bus to transport the winning team and supporters to Boston for the November regional competition. Lunch is provided.
• Raffle prizes at the Vermont competition. Prizes for the 2011 competition included a new 8GB iPod touch, $50 U.S.savings bonds, and iTunes cards.  

View the 2009 Boston Competition!

Below is a streaming video of the competition. Actual questioning begins approximately 14 minutes into the program. Watch the program and test your knowledge of personal finance, economics, and consumer issues.

The 2009 Vermont Championship team from Essex High School went head-to-head with teams from the other New England states. Watch the competition as it was aired on the New England Cable News Network. Estimated time 56 minutes. Go Vermont!   Save this movie.

Vermont Reserve Cup Sponsors

• Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
• Vermont State Treasurer's Office
• TD Bank
• Vermont Jump$tart Coalition