Our students recently traveled to the University of Minnesota for the State Economics Challenge, and we are pleased to share that they returned with some impressive honors.

Under the guidance of teacher and coach Dean Simmons, two teams represented Saint Thomas Academy with distinction, testing their knowledge against the state's best in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and current events.

Advancing to Nationals

Our David Ricardo team (for students in introductory courses) took first place and will be advancing to the national competition. This is a significant achievement, especially considering that out of 800 students statewide, seven of the top 20 scorers were from STA.

• State Champions: Seniors Johnny Castro, John Parkos, Luca Pedri, and Cory Bustamante.

• Top Scorers: John Parkos and Cory Bustamante earned the highest individual scores in their entire division.

A Strong Showing in AP

In the Adam Smith division, which hosts students from advanced and AP programs, our team earned a second-place finish in a very competitive field.

• The Team: Seniors Owen Leroe, Andrew Nelson, Jacob Warford, and Alex Golnik.

We are incredibly proud of these young men for their hard work and for representing the Academy so well on the state stage. Please join us in congratulating both teams and Mr. Simmons on a fantastic season!

About Minnesota Council on Economic Education

Established in 1961, the Minnesota Council on Economic Education is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit housed at the University of Minnesota with a mission to equip Minnesotans with the economic and personal financial understanding needed to succeed in today’s complex economy. The Council is an affiliate of the national Council for Economic Education, nationally recognized for its work in teacher training and student engagement. Learn more: mcee.umn.edu.