U.S. High School Students Compete in 2021 Euro Challenge
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
Press Contact:
Anna.Prisco@eeas.europa.eu
May 17, 2021
U.S. High School Students Compete in 2021 Euro Challenge
High school students from across the United States showcased their knowledge of the European Union and its single currency, the euro, as they participated in this year’s virtual Euro Challenge competition. Organized by the EU Delegation to the United States, the annual competition provides 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 an understanding of economics.
The Euro Challenge helps students learn about policy-making from an EU perspective, while encouraging them to develop solutions to real-world problems and challenges faced by countries in the euro area. Teams prepare for several months before presenting, to an expert panel of judges, their knowledge of the macroeconomic situation in the euro area and proposed solutions to a specific economic challenge facing a euro area country. Following regional contests, 22 teams advanced to this year’s semi-finals, which were held last week. Of those, five teams advanced to compete in the finals on Tuesday, May 18.
“It’s been an incredibility difficult year for students in particular,” said European Union Ambassador to the United States Stavros Lambrinidis. “The unprecedented human and policy challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic made our 2021 competition more timely than ever. The Euro Challenge puts students in the shoes of policymakers, to consider innovative solutions to shared problems in order to build better societies – students become the decision-makers! It also highlights the important economic relationship between the EU and US, a crucial asset as we recover from this crisis. I am especially pleased that so many young Americans took advantage of this unique extracurricular learning experience this year.”
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 diverse, 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.”
This year marks the 16th year of the Euro Challenge, which continues to expand nationally. Since the competition’s launch, thousands of U.S. students have benefited from taking part in the program. In 2021, 50 teams participated, collectively representing high schools from 14 States (California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.) and the District of Columbia. Of these, 22 teams advanced to the semi-final round, and five proceed to the May 18 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 demonstrate 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. The top two placing teams will also enjoy a virtual trip to Washington, DC to present their recommendations to the Embassy of the country they researched. An in-person visit could re-commence in future years.
The following schools are competing in the final round:
Academy for Information Technology, Scotch Plains, NJ
Eleanor Roosevelt High School, New York City, NY
Hastings High School, Hastings-On-Hudson, NY
High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ
Princeton High School, Princeton, 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, Deutsche Bank, Florida International University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Illinois, the University of Texas at Austin, the 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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Delegation of the European Union to the United States
2175 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037