Students Impress in Personal Finance Challenge State Final

The NCCEE team was at Fidelity Investment’s NC HQ last Friday for the thrilling finale of our state’s Personal Finance Challenge competition. Sixteen teams of high school students came together to showcase their knowledge of personal finance and compete for the state championship.

Students began the day by taking a 15-minute written test. Then they delivered judged five-minute presentations in which they created financial plans for fictitious families.

Teams await their turn presenting their case studies

Over lunch, students were treated to a fascinating, highly interactive Q&A session with NC State Treasurer Brad Briner. The Treasurer announced a new internship for NC high school students and spoke from the heart about AI, gambling vs. investing and the biggest financial mistake he made when he was younger (thinking short term instead of long term).

NC State Treasurer Brad Briner onstage with Fidelity’s Leslie Walden

NC State Treasurer Brad Briner chatting with students after his lunchtime session

Students capped off the day with a hard-fought and highly challenging Quiz Bowl competition. At the end of the day, two teams – Overtime Investments (Central Piedmont Community College) and Profit Prowlers (East Chapel Hill High School) – emerged victorious. Congrats to our winners, who will represent North Carolina in the Nationals June 1 in Atlanta.

State champ Overtime Investments team from Central Piedmont Community College

State champ Profit Prowlers team from East Chapel Hill High School

Huge thanks to all the students who participated, to the teachers and chaperones who guided them and to our wonderful volunteers from Fidelity.