Albany High School junior Jonathan Sengabo taught himself to trade stocks on TD Ameritrade during the COVID-19 lockdown. His efforts paid off (literally) on Tuesday, when he was awarded a $250 gift card after placing first in the virtual 2021 Stock Market Challenge.
Each year, Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York and SEFCU sponsor a Stock Market Challenge for hundreds of high school students throughout the region. The challenge simulates the real stock market and allows students to buy and sell stocks.
Historically the event lasts a day and is held at the University at Albany’s SEFCU Arena. The 2021 challenge took place virtually March 17-31, and by the end, Sengabo’s stock portfolio was the most valuable.
Sengabo is a student in Christopher Austen’s Business Concepts class, where students had an opportunity to research stocks and trade in the weeks leading up to the challenge. Sengabo’s experience investing his own money through TD Ameritrade last year, along with the skills he picked up in class, positioned him for success.
Albany High has an excellent track record at the Stock Market Challenge, which started in 2018. The Falcons won in 2018, took third in 2019 and are first again this year (there was no challenge in 2020).
Representatives from Junior Achievement met virtually with Sengabo and Austen on Tuesday to discuss the award and the event.
Sengabo told them he plans to use his gift card – where else? – to invest in the stock market!
