St. Mary Catholic Community School 8th Graders Dive into Real-World Investing

Eighth-grade students at St. Mary Catholic Community School in Crown Point, Indiana, are gaining firsthand experience in financial literacy and investing through the Big Shoulders Fund Stock Market Program. This hands-on initiative provides students with a token $3,000 investment portfolio to manage over the school year, offering a unique opportunity to learn about the stock market, savings, and financial decision-making.

Guided by volunteer financial professionals, students research and select stocks, monitor market trends, and make strategic investment decisions. Throughout the program, they earn a 2% management fee for their efforts, and top-performing individual portfolios are awarded an iPad. 

"Participating in this program has been an eye-opening experience for many of us,” said individual portfolio winner Maeve Scott. The Big Shoulders Fund launched this stock market program to enhance financial literacy among students in Catholic schools across Illinois and Indiana. The program is implemented in 61 schools. 

Shellie Zaberdac (Director of Development and Corporate Partnerships, Big Shoiulders Fund NWI), Maeve Scott, Curt Bowers (  Vice President – Commercial, Healthcare, & Nonprofit Banking, Wintrust Bank ),  Victoria Townsend, Dan Kozlowski (Executive Director, Big Shoulders Fund NWI)

A surprised Maeve Scott Individual Winner

Victoria Townsend Individual Winner

St. Mary Catholic Community School in Crown Point offers grade levels Junior Pre-Kindergarten (for three-year-olds) through grade eight.  Students in all grades are provided with opportunities for fun projects and activities to make learning interesting and relevant.  To learn more about St. Mary’s School visit school.stmarycp.org or call 663-0676 to request a tour.