Junior Achievement of New York (JA New York) and Hofstra University have partnered for the first time to bring the JA Stock Market Challenge to Long Island students.
The JA Stock Market Challenge is an immersive financial education program where high school students compete in a simulated marketplace. On March 17, 2026, 100 students from Freeport High School, Brentwood Freshman Center, South Middle School and Baldwin High School will gather at Hofstra University to collaborate and analyze market trends as they manage fictious $500,000 portfolios. Working in 25 teams on the simulated trading floor of the Martin B. Greenberg Trading Room at the Frank G. Zarb School of Business, students will execute trades using real-time financial and investment data.
Teams with the highest returns on investments will earn prizes including the Zarb Summer Business Experience, a weeklong program that introduces students to the fundamentals of business through hands-on activities, faculty-led sessions, and exposure to emerging industries and technologies shaping today’s global economy. Winning teams will also advance to Junior Achievement of New York’s multi-region competition in New York City on April 16, 2026.
“JA Stock Market Challenge is an exciting JA educational offering that helps young people understand investing and learn how to build wealth,” said Betty Garger, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of New York. “We’re thrilled that Hofstra University and the Frank G. Zarb School of Business is hosting us this year. Together we’re continuing to expand engaging learning experiences that provide real-world skills to future leaders.”
This dynamic experience is one of JA’s signature experiential learning opportunities designed to help young people develop financial literacy, critical thinking, and decision-making skills. By working in real-time simulations, students gain practical insights that prepare them for future careers, financial success, and what’s next.
“We believe experiential learning is essential to preparing the next generation of leaders,” said Dean Janet Lenaghan, Frank G. Zarb School of Business, Hofstra University. “The JA Stock Market Challenge allows students to step into a fast-paced financial environment and experience firsthand the strategy and discipline behind investing.”
The JA Stock Market Challenge pairs with the JA Take Stock in Your Future school curriculum to introduce high school students to key concepts of how the stock market functions and how current events influence market volatility. Participating students discover the benefits and challenges of investing in the stock market, long-term investment strategies, and the risks and rewards of trading.
