Southeast Arkansas winners were among honorees of the 2026 Stock Market Game.
Economics Arkansas recognized student teams and educators from 23 schools across the state as winners of the year-long and spring game during its annual statewide awards luncheon May 7 at the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum.
The overall state winner was Pinnacle View Middle School from Little Rock School District, according to a news release.
First place local winners included:
Elementary division
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Gandy Elementary School, Tiffany Evans advisor, White Hall School District;
East End Intermediate School, Angie Walters advisor, Sheridan School District.
Junior high division
Stuttgart High School, David Tollett advisor, Stuttgart School District.
Senior high division
White Hall High School, Nicole Coffel advisor, White Hall High School.
Economics Arkansas
The luncheon celebrated four division winners and an overall state winner from the competition, as well as first-place statewide and regional winners from the spring session of The Stock Market Game. Since 1999, Economics Arkansas has facilitated The Stock Market Game investment simulation, which challenges students to manage a hypothetical $100,000 portfolio while learning how real-world events influence financial markets.
The event also honored two winners of the SIMFA Foundation’s National InvestWrite essay competition, which is open to participants in The Stock Market Game. This complementary program gives teachers and students an opportunity to reflect on their personal finance journeys during the game and demonstrate the knowledge they gained in investments and money management.
Segmented into three divisions — elementary, middle school and high school — student essay submissions undergo both local and national rounds of evaluation. Winners receive prizes ranging from laptop computers to gift certificates.
The program was emceed by Hayden Balgavy of THV11 and featured special guest Lou Graham, associate vice president and financial advisor for Morgan Stanley and longtime Economics Arkansas board member and advocate for economic education.
Four first-place division winners and an overall state winner were recognized for their outstanding performance over the academic year. Additionally, statewide division winners in the college and teacher divisions, along with spring 2026 first-place winners were selected across six regions of the state in the elementary, junior high and high school divisions. Students and advisors received awards and cash prizes in recognition of their exceptional achievements.
“Seeing students from 23 different schools come together to celebrate their financial savvy is a powerful reminder of why economic education matters,” said Kathleen Lawson, executive director of Economics Arkansas. “These winners haven’t just played a game; they’ve spent months analyzing global events and managing risk. We are incredibly proud to honor their commitment to developing financial skills that will serve them for a lifetime.”
The spring competition ran from Jan. 5 through April 10, and the yearlong competition ran from Sept. 8, 2025, to April 17. In a record-breaking year, more than 19,000 Arkansas students participated in The Stock Market Game at no cost to schools, thanks to support from partners including the Arkansas Securities Department and the Walton Family Foundation.
To learn more, visit economicsarkansas.org or on social media.
