Irvine High School took top honors in the prestigious National Economics Challenge semi-finals, placing 16th in the nation out of 6,500 teams, demonstrating their prowess in both micro and macroeconomic principles as well as a profound comprehension of the global economy. They will now advance to the national finals and receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City to compete for the national title.
The journey to the final challenge required the Irvine High School team to navigate various stages of the competition, including advancing through the California State Competition. At the semi-final competition, the team tackled a comprehensive 45-question online quiz.
This year’s National Economics Challenge Irvine High School team and teacher coach include:
- Eugene Ong, Junior
- Ishaan Gaikwad, Junior
- Lennon Coffin, Sophomore
- Ryan Lee, Junior
- Courtney Smith, Teacher Coach, Social Studies
The competition, which is funded by the Council for Economic Education, draws over 10,000 student competitors each year and is divided into two divisions. The Irvine High School team competed in the David Ricardo Division, reserved for first-time competitors and teams of students currently or previously enrolled in one general economics course. In each division, the top-performing teams will receive a range of prizes at the national competition. This includes cash prizes for each student member and their teacher coach, with amounts ranging from $125 to $1,000, depending on the team's placement.
The finals are scheduled to take place from June 1-3, 2024, and will include teams from across the nation who will compete in a series of challenging rounds, including a critical thinking segment and a quiz bowl competition.
Congratulations to the team on their remarkable achievement in their debut at the National Economics Challnege and best of luck at the national competition!