‘Dragon' team at Edgewater roars into 1st
Teacher credits research for jump from 6th place
2/28/2012Luke McKinley said careful research and the choice to buy low catapulted one of his sixth-grade teams at Edgewater Elementary School into the top spot of The Blade's School Stock Contest.
The team, "Dragon," moved from sixth place to first during the third week of the annual contest. It ended the week with $47,213.28, an increase of $4,799.62 from the week before. The portfolio's stocks are Boston Scientific Corp., MexcoEnergy Corp., American Tower Corp., and Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
"We got into the competition to boost our math [scores] on the proficiency test," Mr. McKinley said. "We thought it was a great way to use graphing and data analysis."
Breaking into one of the top five spots is an added bonus to the class' lessons, Mr. McKinley said. Mexco Energy helped the team gain most of its momentum because it went from $7.60 a share Feb. 17 to $11.25 a share by Friday.
Students from 153 teams in classrooms from northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan are participating in the contest, which began Feb. 3 and runs until April 27. The team with the highest-earning portfolio at the conclusion wins.
Each team was given a hypothetical $40,000 for its portfolio and picked four stocks worth at least $5 a share. The $40,000 was allocated evenly among the stocks.
The participants have one chance to change any or all of their stocks, on March 16.
At the end of the contest, the winning team will receive $250 for the students and $250 for the school. Second place will receive $250 for the school, and third place gets $100 for the school. The prizes can be cash or gift certificates.
The contest is sponsored by The Blade's Newspaper in Education program, Fifth Third Bank, and the University of Toledo, which calculates the results.
Although Mr. McKinley's students jumped into first place, there wasn't much movement among the other teams.
Matthew Faltys, vice president of Fifth Third Bank of Northwest Ohio, said the stock market wasn't overly active last week, so it's not surprising that many of the teams didn't move far in the rankings. "We had a pretty decent run-up so far this year. For the market to stop and take a breather and sell off, that's normal market behavior," he said.
Students in Cathie Ujvagi's sixth-grade class at St. Pius X lost their first place spot to Mr. McKinley's team and slipped to third place. The team, "Stocker," gained $455.71 and climbed to $44,936.30 at the end of the week. It still wasn't enough to hold onto the lead.
Despite that, the team remains confident that it will finish in one of the top three spots, Ms. Ujvagi said. Its holdings include Fusion-io Inc., Apple Inc., Nike Inc., and Under Armour Inc.
"For being the new kids on the block, they are pretty impressed with themselves," she said. "They figure that some of the other classes are specifically focused on this, where they are doing it as a sideline in their math class.
"They realize that it's also a bit of luck."
Contact Kris Turner at: kturner@theblade.com or 419-724-6103.
The top teams after the third week of the 12-week contest, with team name, school, and portfolio value:
1. Dragons, Edgewater Elementary, Toledo, $47,213.28
2. onaboat, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $45,657.25
3. Stocker, St. Pius X, Toledo, $44,936.30
4. raid5, Arbor Hills Jr., Sylvania, $44,184.63
5. Gop1, Arbor Hills Jr., Sylvania, $43,916.48
6. Team BG, Bowling Green High, $43,914.11
7. Bop1, Arbor Hills Jr., Sylvania, $43,779.83
8. tontos, Bowling Green High, $43,640.79
9. Cashflo, Bowsher High, Toledo, $43,118.17
10. Buzkill, Arbor Hills Jr., Sylvania, $43,037.84
11. BOOM, Bowling Green High, $42,858.05
12. Scott02, Scott High, Toledo, $42,705.12
13. Yngmny, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $42,670.42
14. AWAYNE, Anthony Wayne Jr., Whitehouse, $42,564.80
15. Titan, Bowling Green High, $42,504.27
16. Bankbro, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $42,411.08
17. THEGAME, Springfield High, Holland, $42,390.38
18. NikeElf, Whitmer High, Toledo, $42,353.43
19. Scott01, Scott High, Toledo, $42,329.75
20. Scott03, Scott High, Toledo, $42,263.04
21. SAVAGE, Springfield High, Holland, $42,114.96
22. KINO, Park Elementary, Swanton, $42,089.20
23. BABKAT, Whitmer High, Toledo, $42,046.70
24. bramrod, Bowling Green High, $42,018.47
25. WHTHINS, Springfield High, Holland, $42,003.15
26. A Team, St. John the Baptist, Toledo, $41,861.77
27. Unknown, Whitmer High, Toledo, $41,857.63
28. JNBGHS, Bowling Green High, $41,847.96
29. BGHS72, Bowling Green High, $41,834.10
30. Trojans, Whitmer High, Toledo, $41,810.89
31. swagger, St. John the Baptist, Toledo, $41,748.08
32. ChChing, Fallen Timbers Middle, Whitehouse, $41,719.29
33. stockrs, St. Rose, Perrysburg, $41,686.25
34. Austin, Bowling Green High, $41,674.77
35. Aces, Whitmer High, Toledo, $41,620.17
36. Corndog, St. John the Baptist, Toledo, $41,615.09
37. khakbow, Arbor Hills Jr., Sylvania, $41,558.39
38. Wbuffet, Northview High, Sylvania, $41,537.91
39. x3litex, Edgewater Elementary, Toledo, $41,490.23
40. OUTLAWZ, Springfield High, Holland, $41,464.14
41. 0Cool, Bowsher High, Toledo, $41,441.30
42. 4daWin, Whitmer High, Toledo, $41,423.97
43. MOOM, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $41,418.33
44. portals, Christ the King, Toledo, $41,417.15
45. JUMPMAN, Whitmer High, Toledo, $41,380.76
46. Bobcat, Bowling Green High, $41,359.34
47. MuniBag, Fallen Timbers Middle, Whitehouse, $41,286.91
48. Brokers, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $41,273.64
49. 2BSkinE, Whitmer High, Toledo, $41,233.64
50. 2GOOD4U, Perrysburg Jr., Perrysburg, $41,232.20
51. Gradeup, Edgewater Elementary, Toledo, $41,188.99
52. WHITM3R, Whitmer High, Toledo, $41,185.36
53. CashDog, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $41,173.15
54. GTL, Whiteford Agricultural, Ottawa Lake, $41,130.67
55. NasdaqU, Fallen Timbers Middle, Whitehouse, $41,102.18
56. ARO2NEE, Christ the King, Toledo, $41,076.52
57. BACE, Whiteford Agricultural, Ottawa Lake, $40,994.28
58. Gr8Kiwi, Park Elementary, Swanton, $40,993.09
59. Lexicon, Northview High, Sylvania, $40,976.29
60. Dninjas, Rossford Jr., Rossford, $40,941.21
61. Cash-os, Northview High, Sylvania, $40,889.44
62. Que, Perrysburg Jr., Perrysburg, $40,800.89
63. YMCMB, Christ the King, Toledo, $40,761.62
64. NVstock, Northview High, Sylvania, $40,755.99
65. Twebeks, Hicksville Middle, Hicksville, $40,703.58
66. HTGRF, Bowling Green High, $40,687.18
67. TeAm_24, St. Rose, Perrysburg, $40,657.88
68. eatdirt, Bowling Green High, $40,651.81
69. IAM3RD, Holy Trinity, Swanton, $40,624.39
70. ABADOJI, Springfield High, Holland, $40,553.12
71. dino, Bowling Green High, $40,521.95
72. longsh, Bowling Green High, $40,498.40
73. Watcher, Anthony Wayne Jr., Whitehouse, $40,497.34
74. UMAdBR0, Springfield High, Holland, $40,462.09
75. Goteam, Bowling Green High, $40,432.81
76. MINA, Bowling Green High, $40,420.81
77. Teamwow, St. John the Baptist, Toledo, $40,392.34
78. Zazzers, Hicksville Elementary, Hicksville, $40,391.41
79. cashflw, Northview High, Sylvania, $40,385.53
80. WAFFLES, Bowling Green High, $40,384.77
81. Smartys, Park Elementary, Swanton, $40,381.52
82. Lucky, Bowling Green High, $40,381.13
83. Steph3, Bowling Green High, $40,372.17
84. smlykat, Bowling Green High, $40,347.27
85. STACKS, Bowling Green High, $40,331.84
86. Dinero, Anthony Wayne Jr., Whitehouse, $40,311.43
87. COWBELL, Springfield High, Holland, $40,289.29
88. gr8apes, Park Elementary, Swanton, $40,282.20
89. DUBP, Bowling Green High, $40,274.46
90. YOLO, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $40,250.79
91. toocute, Whitmer High, Toledo, $40,192.82
92. Ramrod, Bowling Green High, $40,168.58
93. BIG, Whiteford Agricultural, Ottawa Lake, $40,160.01
94. STOXRUS, Pike Delta York Middle, Delta, $40,103.86
95. Burt, Bowling Green High, $40,098.89
96. THEFBI, Springfield High, Holland, $40,069.36
97. TBJMLM, St. Rose, Perrysburg, $40,036.88
98. Winners, Anthony Wayne Jr., Whitehouse, $40,000.30
99. EAGLES, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $39,989.99
100. BADMEAT, Rossford Jr., Rossford, $39,969.20
101. aquagod, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $39,967.32
102. Fisher, Bowling Green High, $39,961.10
103. ZACKOPS, Bowling Green Christian Academy, Bowling Green, $39,960.25
104. SupaHot, St. Rose, Perrysburg, $39,901.26
105. Timmy, Bowling Green High, $39,867.27
106. stiltz, St. Rose, Perrysburg, $39,864.34
107. Number1, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $39,859.34
108. Furples, Arbor Hills Jr., Sylvania, $39,835.98
109. Bohunks, Rossford Jr., Rossford, $39,735.86
110. AWJHCFL, Anthony Wayne Jr., Whitehouse, $39,734.25
111. MaNeJu, Whiteford Agricultural, Ottawa Lake, $39,715.77
112. Leco, Bowling Green High, $39,712.21
113. Twander, Whitmer High, Toledo, $39,692.78
114. OFWG, Springfield High, Holland, $39,649.37
115. Purple, Holy Trinity, Swanton, $39,600.42
116. snorks, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $39,572.28
117. Depo, Bowling Green High, $39,553.28
118. Jedis, Whiteford Agricultural, Ottawa Lake, $39,499.42
119. MSkill, Bowling Green High, $39,411.75
120. C&L SE, Bowling Green High, $39,394.80
121. LRMDKI3, Whiteford Agricultural, Ottawa Lake, $39,346.16
122. JHN316, Bowling Green High, $39,335.83
123. cobras, Christ the King, Toledo, $39,331.51
124. Wercool, Hicksville Middle, Hicksville, $39,308.45
125. seasick, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $39,282.24
126. Warcats, Edgewater Elementary, Toledo, $39,239.99
127. LampLuv, St. Rose, Perrysburg, $39,222.73
128. YEAH4X, Whiteford Agricultural, Ottawa lake, $39,164.51
129. Goham, Bowling Green High, $39,125.92
130. stoklyf, Whiteford Agricultural, Ottawa Lake, $39,122.00
131. Scott04, Scott High, Toledo, $39,108.39
132. CSNJ, Bowling Green High, $39,097.41
133. JB, Bowling Green High, $38,959.54
134. PJHSROX, Perrysburg Jr., Perrysburg, $38,930.41
135. CAT, Bowling Green High, $38,892.08
136. sfscash, St. Francis de Sales, Toledo, $38,886.58
137. Sparkle, St. Pius X, Toledo, $38,821.36
138. SeaGang, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $38,793.58
139. Jinx, Rossford Jr., Rossford, $38,750.16
140. Pecunia, Anthony Wayne Jr., Whitehouse, $38,735.78
141. Ticotbl, Edgewater Elementary, Toledo, $38,732.47
142. LDiablo, Edgewater Elementary, Toledo, $38,652.25
143. AFitch, Bowling Green High, $38,638.18
144. Irish3, Bowling Green High, $38,526.08
145. StackZ, Bowsher High, Toledo, $38,482.07
146. FBGM, Bowling Green High, $38,342.52
147. Dr Dan, St. Rose, Perrysburg, $38,288.75
148. TREE, Bowling Green High, $38,108.93
149. BLASE, St. Rose, Perrysburg, $37,770.38
150. EDGEh20, Edgewater Elementary, Toledo, $37,306.68
151. Team KB, Bowling Green High, $37,251.53
152. MCtoM, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $35,645.23
153. HotMess, Edgewater Elementary, Toledo, $34,187.32