Montana Bankers Association partners with MCEE to bring financial education to the classroom

This semester the partnership reached over 50 schools teaching business skills and the importance and rewards of investing

Helena, MT – The Montana Council for Economic Education (MCEE) attracted over 1,500 students to compete in the Big Sky Biz Sim and the Stock Market Game with the support of the Montana Bankers Association this fall.

The Big Sky Biz Sim is a 10-week program inviting student teams to serve as the executives of a publicly traded manufacturing plant with the goal to maximize stock value. The Stock Market Game is a national program that provides students a simulated portfolio valued at $100,000 with eight weeks to maximize earnings by investing in stocks, mutual funds and bonds.

“Our member banks have prioritized financial literacy as a core skill that benefits young Montanans to be inspired as entrepreneurs while learning fundamentals in saving, borrowing, investing and management, said Cary Hegreberg, President/CEO of the Montana Bankers Association. “By partnering with MCEE, we’re reaching students through quality programs that stretch across the state in rural and urban communities. There is a strong future in banking in Montana’s growing economy and we’re meeting students where they’re at in the classroom.”

The Big Sky Biz Sim had operational support provided by the First Interstate BancSystem Foundation and the winning teams this year were from Sidney High School, Heritage Christian in Bozeman, and Melstone High School. Industry winners were represented by Helena High School, Columbus High School, Glacier High School in Kalispell, Three Forks Schools, Twin Bridges High School, Skyview High in Billings, and Bozeman High School.

The Stock Market Game schools receive support from Glacier Bank and its family of Montana Banks to sponsor all team fees for over 400 teams. The winning teams included Corvallis High School, Belgrade High School, Skyview High in Billings, Bozeman High School, Whitehall High School, Glacier High in Kalispell, Libby High School, and Sidney High School. Both programs will open again in the spring.

“The mission at our Council is to improve economic and financial literacy for Montana’s youth and it takes partners like the Montana Bankers Association to meet this mission,” said Dax Schieffer, MCEE Executive Director. “We know that when we provide the foundation of knowledge in finance, students not only gain the tools for success for themselves and their families, but also contribute to the success of their communities and ultimately Montana.”

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