On Thursday, March 19, 2026, 100 students from the Lower Hudson Valley region will participate in the Junior Achievement of New York (JA New York) JA Stock Market Challenge at Iona University.
The JA Stock Market Challenge is an immersive financial education program where high school students compete in a fast-paced, simulated marketplace. During the experience, students form teams to analyze, collaborate, and make strategic trade decisions. The teams with the highest return on investment will advance to Junior Achievement of New York’s multi-region competition in New York City on April 16, 2026.
This year’s participating students come from Lincoln High School, Roosevelt High School, Yonkers Montessori Academy, and Yonkers Middle High School. These schools have also enrolled in the JA Take Stock in Your Future curriculum, which—together with the JA Stock Market Challenge — introduces youth to key investment concepts, including how the stock market works and the influence of current events on market volatility. The combined programs bring business, economics, and experiential learning to young people, helping them gain practical insights and skills to prepare them for future careers, financial success, and what’s next.
“JA New York is proud to partner with Iona University, to bring the JA Stock Market Challenge to the young people in the Lower Hudson Valley Region,” said Betty Garger, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of New York. “This program gives students a thrilling glimpse into the world of trading and provides a meaningful, hands-on learning experience for those interested in understanding how the stock market works today.”
JA Stock Market Challenge is a signature experiential learning opportunity of JA New York and one of many financial education and career readiness experiences offered to help young people develop financial literacy, critical thinking, and decision-making skills. Over 90% of youth who have participated in JA New York’s experiences have reported learning a helpful skill/ financial literacy concept.
“Iona University is pleased to host the JA Stock Market Challenge and welcome these talented students to campus,” said Christoph Winkler, Ph.D., founding program director of the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. “Experiences like this are essential to inspiring the next generation of business and entrepreneurial leaders, as they create meaningful
connections and help bring classroom concepts to life in a dynamic, real-world setting.”
In addition to hosting the event, Iona students will volunteer to help guide and support the high school students throughout the day. Hynes Institute faculty will also engage students in an entrepreneurial mindset workshop.
