Community Commitment

First Commonwealth Plays the Stock Market (Game)

Earlier this year, First Commonwealth announced its partnership with EconomicsPennsylvania and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) to establish the First Commonwealth 'Center for Economic Education' (CEE) at IUP. The goal of the First Commonwealth CEE is to educate students on essential financial, economic, and investment concepts. One of the most well known curriculum initiatives developed by EconomicsPennsylvania is the Stock Market Game.
 
Recently, First Commonwealth participated in two Stock Market Game banquets being held to salute the top performers from throughout the 15 county area served by the First Commonwealth CEE at IUP.  

The first Stock Market Game Banquet was held at Crimson Event Center on the IUP campus. Four schools participated: Everett Area High School, Latrobe Elementary School, Baggaley Elementary School, and Mountain View Elementary School.

Pictured are students from Ridgeway High School in Elk County;
their teacher (center) is Kelly Burford.

Each teacher that played the Stock Market Game was invited to bring five students to attend free of charge. Brenda Alabran of First Commonwealth Bank spoke to the students about the importance of investing wisely and making good money decisions. Each school had students share their reflections on playing the game and what they learned.

The second banquet was at the Clarion Holiday Inn in Clarion, PA, and the participating schools included: Redbank-Hawthorn Elementary School, Kane Area High School, Ridgway High School (pictured above), Oil City High School, and Mahoning Elementary School. At each banquet the students received t-shirts and certificates were given to the top three schools in the IUP region in each of the three categories, grades 4-6, 7-8, and 9-12.

With First Commonwealth's financial support, the Center for Economic Education provides a means to empower young people to use economic ways of thinking and problem-solving. First Commonwealth's funding also means a dedicated staff person from EconomicsPennsylvania is working with the First Commonwealth Center at IUP, and is available as a liaison for any First Commonwealth community office that might want to participate with a local school. IUP economics faculty members have worked with EconomicsPennsylvania for the past several years to offer summer programming to high school students and teachers in order to enhance economics education at the secondary level.

"The First Commonwealth Center for Economic Education is another demonstration of First Commonwealth's commitment to this region."  First Commonwealth Bank President Mike Price noted, "We are proud to partner with EconomicsPennsylvania and IUP, providing students and teachers with the knowledge and capability to be financially successful throughout their lives."