U.S. High School Students Compete Virtually in 2020 Euro Challenge
May 14, 2020
As Americans and Europeans are staying home to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Euro Challenge competition, organized by the EU Delegation to the United States, has moved online. Its goal is to provide high school students nationally with an exciting opportunity to learn about the global economy, how policy-making in the EU works, and EU-U.S. economic relations, while simultaneously promoting financial literacy.
On May 12, 14 and 18, following regional contests, 25 teams from across the country compete virtually in the semi-final round of the annual Euro Challenge competition for American high-school students. Five teams will advance to the finals to be held on May 19. After months of preparation, the teams will showcase to a panel of expert judges their knowledge of the European Union and its single currency, the Euro, which, since its launch in 1999, has contributed to financial stability and economic growth in Europe and around the world. The Euro Challenge teaches students about economic and financial literacy and policy making from an EU perspective while encouraging them to devise solutions to global challenges.
“We are pleased to be able to hold again this unique event for young Americans, fully adjusted to the current distant learning conditions,” said European Union Ambassador to the United States Stavros Lambrinidis. “Given the unprecedented human and policy challenges posed by COVID-19, the competition this year couldn’t be more timely. The Euro Challenge teaches critical skills as students put themselves in the shoes of policymakers and consider new solutions to shared problems in order to build better societies.”
Arlene Isaacs-Lowe, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Moody’s Corporation and President of Moody’s Foundation, said: “To build a stronger global economy, we must ensure that the world’s future leaders are global citizens. The Euro Challenge embodies this spirit. Moody’s is proud to support and participate in judging this competition, and we are continuously impressed by the insights these students demonstrate in their analysis and policy recommendations.”
2020 will mark the 15th iteration of the Euro Challenge, which continues to expand nationally. Since the competition’s launch, thousands of U.S. students have benefited from participating in the event. In 2020, more than 90 teams participated in the competition, collectively representing high schools from 16 States (Connecticut, California, Florida, Washington, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Massachusetts, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland) and the District of Columbia. Of these, 25 teams have advanced to the semi-final round and five will proceed to the May 19 finals.
Teams consist of 3-5 9th or 10th grade students, who have spent months researching European economic policy and history with the help of mentors from their schools and resources provided by the EU Delegation to the United States. The teams then prepare a detailed presentation of current economic conditions in one of the 19 countries that share the euro, and proceed to make policy recommendations to improve that country's competitiveness, human capital, and sustainable growth. Finally, teams must answer questions from a distinguished panel of judges to showcase their grasp of economic issues and policy trade-offs.
The top five winning teams will receive monetary awards generously provided by the Moody’s Foundation. Once it is possible to travel, the top two placing teams will receive a free trip to Washington, D.C. also sponsored by the Moody’s Foundation, to present their recommendations to the Embassy of the country they researched.
The following schools are competing in the semi-final round:
Academy for Information Technology (NJ)
Dallas International School (TX)
East Brunswick High School (NJ)
Eleanor Roosevelt High School (NY)
Farmington High School (CT)
Garden City High School (NY)
Georgetown Day School (DC)
Great Neck North High School (NY)
Greenwich High School (CT)
Gulliver Preparatory High School (FL)
High School of Economics & Finance (NY)
High Technology High School (NJ)
Ingraham High School (WA)
Lenox Memorial High School (MA)
Mallard Creek High School (NC)
Marlboro High School (NJ)
Mounds View High School (MN)
Mount Saint Mary Academy (NJ)
Naperville Central High School (IL)
North Allegheny Intermediate School (PA)
Princeton High School (NJ)
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (NJ)
School of Business and Management (TX)
St. Albans School (DC)
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North (NJ)
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 Moody’s Foundation sponsors the monetary awards. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York serves as program advisor.
The Euro Challenge is supported by BNP Paribas, Florida International University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Illinois, the University of Texas at Austin, University of Washington, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (Detroit Branch), the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, the World Affairs Council of Seattle, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (Miami Branch).
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Press Contact:
Anna Prisco
Anna.Prisco@eeas.europa.eu