Ridgefield High Students Take 1st at 2013 Euro Challenge

The following is based off a press release is from the Delegation of the European Union to the United States.

At the final round of this year’s Euro Challenge held earlier this month at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, five teams emerged as the winners, including students from Ridgefield High School, who took first place in the competition.

Runners up included St. Joseph High School, South Bend, IN (second place); Marlboro High School, Marlboro, NJ (third place); High School for Math, Science & Engineering, New York, NY (fourth place); and International Academy Okma, Bloomfield Hills, MI (5th place) beat top teams from 20 other high schools on the final day of intense competition.

The Euro Challenge is a unique and exciting educational opportunity for high school students from across the United States to learn about the European Union — the largest economic partner of the U.S. — and the 17 countries that share its single currency, the euro. Participants showcase their specific knowledge of countries in the euro area and make policy recommendations to rein in deficits and debt, reduce unemployment, or solve other challenges confronting these countries.

The winning teams receive monetary awards provided by the Moody’s Foundation, along with a trip to Washington, D.C. for the top two teams.

“It is truly impressive to see how engaged and knowledgeable these students are and what creative solutions they propose for some of our most urgent economic challenges,” Ambassador João Vale de Almeida, Head of the European Union Delegation to the United States, said at the award ceremony. “The competition has reached thousands of young Americans. It’s a great learning experience for these students as they go beyond the headlines of economic news to fully understand key economic concepts and the complex realities faced by policymakers. By learning how Europe is dealing with these challenges, the Euro Challenge helps young Americans to have a better understanding of how Europe and America are deeply connected.”

Launched in 2006, the competition continues to expand nationally. This year, more than 100 high school teams from 17 states plus the District of Columbia participated in the program. Preliminary regional competitions concluded in March, with 25 schools advancing to the finals on April 12.

The Euro Challenge is a program launched and supported by the Delegation of the European Union to the United States, and is managed on the Delegation’s behalf by w!se (Working in Support of Education). The Federal Reserve Bank of New York serves as program advisor.

Other partner organizations include: Credit Suisse, the University of North Carolina, Florida International University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Illinois, Rutgers University, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (Pittsburgh Branch), the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (Detroit Branch), George Washington University, the DC World Affairs Council and the University of Texas at Austin.