Economists Excel at National Econ Challenge

Iolani's Hawaii State Economic Challenge Champions traveled to New York City to represent the Western Region in the National Economics Challenge Finals Competition conducted May 18 and 19.

After the first two rounds of written competition on Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, Hawaii was in first place in the Adam Smith Division (AP) with Alabama and Indiana close behind.

In the David Ricardo Division, Hawaii was tied for second with Indiana just behind the leader, California. The results of the third round were announced at the preliminary awards luncheon by the President of the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE), Dr. Robert Duval.

In the David Ricardo Division, Hawaii was announced as the third place winner. Team members sophomores Michelle Ky , Leslie-Anne Kawano and  Jesse Franklin-Murdock., and senior Gian Garduque accepted the Third Place in the Nation Trophy along with their coach Richie Kibota.

In the Adam Smith Division, Dr. Duval announced that Hawaii would face off against Alabama in the final buzzer round competition for the National Championship. The buzzer round was exciting and close with Hawaii managing to come from an initial deficit to tie the match at 7 to 7. However, Alabama finally prevailed to win the National Championship. Seniors Jon Fung, David Jaress, Reid Kawamoto, and Braxton Sato accepted the Second Place in the Nation trophy along with a $1,500 US Savings Bond for each team member and their coach Dick Rankin.

All the students and their coaches had a great time visiting New York City for the National Economics Challenge Competition. They were treated to two bus/walking tours of New York City. The tours included Central Park, the Financial District, Grand Central Station, Ground Zero, and the Top of the Rock where they took in spectacular 360 degree views of the city and its surroundings.

They visited with Tanner Fahl (Iolani Class of 99) at his office at DE Shaw Hedge Fund. After learning about Hedge Funds and many other aspects of living and working on Wall Street, they had lunch with Tanner and three of his Iolani Classmates also working on Wall Street. (Francis Lam, Kalani Oshiro, and Jason Yeung) at Carmines Restaurant. Incidentally, Tanner and his classmates were on Iolani’s 1999 State Economics Challenge Championship team.(There was no National Competition then). Tanner spoke to this special relationship when he was NCEE’s special guest speaker for the luncheon held prior to the beginning of the written competitions.

The students and coaches also attended the Broadway musical Chicago as well as Yankee Stadium. Unfortunately, the scheduled game between the Yankees and the Mets was postponed due to rain just after the students purchased some hotdogs and drinks and took their seats. (Anyone traveling to NYC this summer and interested in seeing the rescheduled game should see COL Rankin for 10 tickets!)

The students returned to Honolulu on May 20, totally exhausted, but very proud of their accomplishments.