BLADE STOCK CONTEST: WEEK

Fifth graders dominate stock contest

Minions from Park Elementary hold first-place position

5/13/2014

BY CHIP TOWNS
BLADE BUSINESS WRITER

Blade-School-Stock-Contest-2014-with-sponsors

Three teams in The Blade School Stock Contest are proving that experience isn’t everything. Enthusiasm also matters.

In a contest filled mostly with high school and junior high students, fifth graders occupy the top three spots.

Minions, from Park Elementary School in Swanton, are in first place.

TTuttle, from the L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted in East Toledo, are in second place, and another team from Park Elementary, Dogs101, is in third.

Erin Santangelo, a gifted intervention specialist at the L. Hollingworth School, has four teams in the contest: one each from grades five through eight.

From the start, it was the fifth graders at the charter school who showed a passion for the contest.

“They thought about their name, they asked the most questions, they spent the most time conferring,” Mrs. Santangelo said. “They are very good students who are eager to learn.”

Ronald Belle of Fifth Third Bank, one of the contest’s sponsors, talked to several classes before the contest began, but he specifically recalls Mrs. Santangelo’s students.

“I remember the visit very well,” said Mr. Belle, who is senior vice president and investment advisers division executive at the bank. “They were a great class that asked a lot of questions. We spent a lot of our time talking about things to look at when researching companies — diversification, analysts’ reports, etc. They were very engaged.”

The team’s name, TTuttle, is a tribute to fifth-grade teacher Alex Tuttle.

TTuttle started the contest with Pepsico Inc., Apple Inc., Abercrombie & Fitch Co., and Sega Sammy Holdings Inc.

When they had a chance to trade stocks midway through the 12-week contest, the eight-member team went to Mrs. Santangelo with a firm plan, and notes to back it up.

“Part of what they have learned is the effect people’s needs and wants have on the stock market.”

They realized that Sega, best known for its gaming systems, “wasn’t a major, popular thing.”

They traded Sega and Abercrombie for The Walt Disney Co. and Procter & Gamble Co., which sells a wide variety of name-brand consumer goods.

“They said, ‘Well, if everybody needs to brush their teeth or everybody needs to use deodorant, people are going to buy more of this than they are Sega,’ ” Mrs. Santangelo said.

TTuttle was in 21st place at the midway point, but entered the top 10 the following week and zoomed from seventh place to second last week.

“That is an example of a well-diversified portfolio,” Mr. Belle said. “All those companies are industry leaders that have performed well.”

Each of the 158 teams from the Toledo area was given a mythical $40,000 to split evenly among four stocks that were selling for at least $5 a share when the contest started in February.

When the 12-week contest ends Friday, the team whose portfolio has grown the most will be the winner.

The winning team will get $250 for the students and $250 for the school. The second-place team will receive $250 for the school, and third place gets $100 for the school. Prizes may be cash or gift certificates.

The contest is sponsored by The Blade’s Newspaper in Education program, the Taylor Automotive Family, Fifth Third Bank, and the University of Toledo, which calculates the results.

Minions holds a commanding lead, having seen its portfolio grown 23 percent in 11 weeks.

“It’s been very exciting,” said teacher Jenny Schmidt, who has five teams of gifted students in the contest. “Swanton’s a little town, so the minute we put it on our Facebook page, people were stopping me at the grocery store to talk about it. And there was a groundswell of parents talking about it.”

The Minions continue to ride Emerge Energy Services LP. The oil and gas equipment and services company has seen its stock rise almost 92 percent in the 11 weeks of the contest — by far the most of any stock chosen by any team.

“I wish I would have bought it myself,” Mrs. Schmidt said. “I need to start listening to my kids instead of them listening to me.”

The third-place team, Dogs101, saw the success classmates were having with Emerge Energy and traded for it at the midway point of the contest.

Contact Chip Towns at: ctowns@theblade.com or 419-724-6194.

WEEK 12 standings

Standings after Week 11 of the 12-week Blade School Stock Contest, with team name, school, and portfolio total. Each team started with a mythical $40,000.

1. Minions, Park Elementary, Swanton, $49,216.37
2. TTuttle, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $44,000.84
3. Dogs101, Park Elementary, Swanton, $43,780.02
4. ADTR, Springfield High School, Holland, $43,671.79
5. 6Loserz, Rossford Junior High, $43,659.19
6. Mitch5, Bowling Green High, $43,632.55
7. GGnoRE, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $43,556.68
8. AWGB8, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $43,183.59
9. CoolCat, Dundee (Mich.) High, $43,132.54
10. CLAY6, Clay High, Oregon, $43,003.71
11. Chiefs, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, Fostoria, $42,827.27
12. Trex, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, Fostoria, $42,702.93
13. magicw, Bowling Green High, $42,525.14
14. BigDawg, Dundee (Mich.) High, $42,475.83
15. FoStock, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, Fostoria, $42,377.17
16. purpleg, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $42,304.72
17. Clay8, Clay High, Oregon, $42,174.51
18. Boats, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $42,165.62
19. 8LHSTG, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $42,027.01
20. MVCDSRK, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $41,998.39
21. Team BG, Bowling Green High, $41,946.67
22. FA4th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $41,888.53
23. DA BEAN, Rossford Junior High, $41,883.15
24. Nikki, Bowling Green High, $41,868.36
25. WOLFSqd, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,788.11
26. jlas, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $41,786.33
27. bobKATS, Bowling Green High, $41,648.47
28. Clay1, Clay High, Oregon, $41,372.48
29. Risk101, Rossford Junior High, $41,324.07
30. MVCDSLI, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $41,323.43
31. SPOOOON, Dundee (Mich.) High, $41,251.57
32. CashFlo, Rossford Junior High, $41,149.65
33. CashFO5, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,147.48
34. 136627, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,071.27
35. stockbo, Bowling Green High, $41,064.78
36. MVCDSJS, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $41,058.02
37. Turnt, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,963.34
38. JJRAP, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,896.60
39. Bucs, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $40,768.66
40. moneymm, Bowling Green High, $40,628.07
41. CHASE08, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $40,594.71
42. THEMOB, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,432.86
43. SHS1, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,422.41
44. 4Saints, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,362.06
45. TurnUhh, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,354.52
46. MeGusta, Bowling Green High, $40,348.77
47. addsubs, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $40,347.56
48. 6GRocks, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $40,346.14
49. SAGET22, Park Elementary, Swanton, $40,310.94
50. MVCDSJA, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $40,310.28
51. 5Shards, Bowling Green High, $40,236.32
52. Karats, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $40,214.13
53. MOMA, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $40,066.46
54. AvenG3r, Dundee (Mich.) High, $40,024.05
55. FISH, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,017.40
56. Bowties, Park Elementary, Swanton, $39,998.79
57. cosmic, Dundee (Mich.) High, $39,997.58
58. Shnozes, Rossford Junior High, $39,959.85
59. Giraffe, Bowling Green High, $39,939.74
60. Bagels, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,902.93
61. mariner, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $39,854.49
62. ganar, Bowling Green High, $39,827.43
63. FA5thR, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $39,754.96
64. FA6th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $39,754.84
65. mightyt, Bowling Green High, $39,746.11
66. 7LHSTG, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $39,681.11
67. HEYAA, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,619.96
68. kingsto, Bowling Green High, $39,600.46
69. Seahors, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $39,581.34
70. MCMM, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $39,549.50
71. WeezMan, Dundee (Mich.) High, $39,520.45
72. swag, Bowling Green High, $39,509.40
73. TOMFORD, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,475.37
74. one, Bowling Green High, $39,426.90
75. BG Lexi, Bowling Green High, $39,393.27
76. linda, Bowling Green High, $39,339.97
77. FA8th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $39,327.37
78. teampic, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $39,283.80
79. Legit 6, Rossford Junior High, $39,236.25
80. FA5thL, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $39,187.77
81. BSBIS, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,164.06
82. HASHTAG, All Saints Catholic School, Rossford, $39,002.76
83. BaZinga, Pike Delta York Middle School, Delta, $38,990.95
84. CCC, Dundee (Mich.) High, $38,907.15
85. MVCDSTF, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $38,901.56
86. SHS386, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,863.28
87. THEM, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,710.50
88. VIPER, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,583.04
89. slushie, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $38,582.47
90. 7NINJAS, Rossford Junior High, $38,518.07
91. 5LOCOS, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,423.33
92. AWGB7, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $38,413.47
93. gr8stok, Notre Dame Academy, Toledo, $38,346.14
94. take, Bowling Green High, $38,279.37
95. magconb, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $38,215.11
96. Redmenz, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, Fostoria, $38,206.79
97. Clay500, Clay High, Oregon, $38,177.91
98. mrToms, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $38,082.64
99. Destroy, Dundee (Mich.) High, $37,845.55
100. wolves, Bowling Green High, $37,825.70
101. FA7th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $37,812.30
102. kahbobs, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $37,764.42
103. ZZEBRAZ, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $37,751.45
104. TBPN, Springfield High School, Holland, $37,715.20
105. NPGTOWN, North Point Educational Service Center, Graytown, $37,705.45
106. MVCDSZB, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $37,642.66
107. betty, Bowling Green High, $37,593.19
108. PAYROLL, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $37,581.56
109. Pistach, Dundee (Mich.) High, $37,517.69
110. GOLD, Springfield High School, Holland, $37,485.98
111. SHS2, Springfield High School, Holland, $37,453.33
112. saints, Bowling Green High, $37,308.43
113. nfl1314, Bowling Green High, $37,266.11
114. thejerk, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $37,247.24
115. bobcat1, Bowling Green High, $37,222.95
116. BG Emma, Bowling Green High, $37,220.54
117. PEMDAS7, All Saints Catholic School, Rossford, $37,158.67
118. Flamngo, Bowling Green High, $37,096.75
119. TeamAce, Springfield High School, Holland, $37,086.12
120. VolleGs, Notre Dame Academy, Toledo, $36,922.06
121. AWGB5, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $36,875.78
122. Scalywg, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $36,872.62
123. votefor, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $36,745.20
124. Sauce, Dundee (Mich.) High, $36,703.97
125. MVCDSNI, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $36,684.85
126. munchie, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $36,671.34
127. BUCKETS, Springfield High School, Holland, $36,451.14
128. ClayHON, Clay High, Oregon, $36,259.34
129. BGWolvs, Bowling Green High, $36,258.72
130. GROUP6, Springfield High School, Holland, $36,167.03
131. PlumBum, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $36,155.29
132. CatFish, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $36,052.22
133. 2fast4u, Park Elementary, Swanton, $36,026.82
134. Pirates, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $35,892.15
135. MVCDSZS, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $35,788.47
136. Welky, Rossford Junior High, $35,745.13
137. johnsto, Bowling Green High, $35,719.33
138. CTDM1, Springfield High School, Holland, $35,619.18
139. Manatee, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $35,439.90
140. k3cs, Bowling Green High, $35,364.30
141. OICU812, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $35,093.40
142. HOBIE, Dundee (Mich.) High, $35,059.73
143. STOCKRS, Springfield High School, Holland, $35,050.13
144. Jackpot, Springfield High School, Holland, $34,974.13
145. THEMILS, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $34,930.20
146. SAP, SAP, Graytown, $34,632.18
147. teamnah, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $34,598.40
148. magicb, Bowling Green High, $34,207.98
149. BetaMax, Dundee (Mich.) High, $34,155.85
150. Rugrats, Springfield High School, Holland, $33,684.69
151. CHASE06, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $33,457.75
152. NATAS, Springfield High School, Holland, $32,699.88
153. TNR03, Springfield High School, Holland, $32,580.23
154. IT, Springfield High School, Holland, $32,445.81
155. Clay333, Clay High, Oregon, $31,854.97
156. CHASE07, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $31,398.05
157. HOBIE 2, Dundee (Mich.) High, $29,733.06
158. CHASE05, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $28,798.76