BLADE STOCK CONTEST: WEEK 12 FINALE

5th graders, 'The Minions,' beat 157 teams in competition

5/20/2014
BY CHIP TOWNS
BLADE BUSINESS WRITER
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    Fifth graders Jasmin Kenzie, 10, left, Samantha Taylor, 11, center left, Emily Gelske, 10, center right, and Jackson Osborne, 11, right, from Park Elementary School in Swanton are the winers of The Blade’s Stock Contest. Calling themselves the Minions, the members of the team said they were surprised and pleased to win. At right in the background is their teacher, Jenny Schmidt.

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  • Fifth graders Jasmin Kenzie, 10, left, Samantha Taylor, 11, center left, Emily Gelske, 10, center right, and Jackson Osborne, 11, right, from Park Elementary School in Swanton are the winers of  The Blade’s Stock Contest. Calling themselves the Minions, the members of the team said they were surprised and pleased to win. At right in the background is their teacher, Jenny Schmidt.
    Fifth graders Jasmin Kenzie, 10, left, Samantha Taylor, 11, center left, Emily Gelske, 10, center right, and Jackson Osborne, 11, right, from Park Elementary School in Swanton are the winers of The Blade’s Stock Contest. Calling themselves the Minions, the members of the team said they were surprised and pleased to win. At right in the background is their teacher, Jenny Schmidt.

    The Minions did it.

    The team of four fifth graders from Park Elementary School in Swanton won The 2014 Blade School Stock Contest. They beat 157 other teams, most of which were from high schools and middle schools.

    Samantha Taylor, Jasmin Kenzie, Emily Gelske, and Jackson Osborne built a four-stock portfolio that grew 18.6 percent during the 12-week contest.

    It’s safe to say that the Minions and the four other teams in Jenny Schmidt’s gifted and talented class didn’t know much about the stock market three months ago.

    ■ FINAL STOCK CONTEST STANDINGS

    What did they think when their teacher first told them about the contest?

    “What is a stock?” Jasmin remembered.

    But Mrs. Schmidt gave them Internet links to several articles by “experts” predicting the best stocks to own in 2014.

    Each of the 158 teams in the contest was given a mythical $40,000 to split evenly between four stocks when the contest started in February. Teams had a chance to trade one or more of their stocks for a different stock at the midway point of the contest.

    The Minions — who named themselves after the small, yellow, impulsive creatures from the “Despicable Me” movies — sorted through Mrs. Schmidt’s lists and made their selections.

    Their impulse proved to be correct when they chose Emerge Energy Services LP, which gained almost 67 percent in 12 weeks.

    Team members still aren’t completely sure what the company does, but Jackson joked that it was “powered by Minions.”

    They also bought Apple Inc., Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc., and Tesla Motors Inc.

    The Minions’ $40,000 portfolio grew to $47,458, despite losing 3.5 percent last week.

    ADTR, from Springfield High School, finished second. Its teacher, Jennifer Hoel, had the winning team in last year’s contest.

    Ms. Hoel’s teams were seniors taking her financial algebra class, in which they apply algebra to real-world money applications.

    Ms. Hoel said her most successful teams have chosen one stock that did exceptionally well.

    “It seems like the secret is find that one gold mine, and then picking a couple other stocks that aren’t going to pull them down.”

    Clay8, taught by Keith Dunbar in an economics class at Clay High School, finished third. It had the biggest gain last week at 7.36 percent and jumped up from 17th place.

    ADTR and Clay8 both owned J.C. Penney Co. Inc. stock, which grew 10.6 percent last week and was the biggest gainer of any stock chosen for the contest — growing 72.5 percent.


    ADTR’s other stocks were Google Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., and Bank of America Corp. Clay8 had Tesla Motors Inc., MannKind Corp., and Newmont Mining Corp.

    Sixty of the 158 teams saw their portfolios grow during the 12-week contest. The S&P 500, a broad gauge of the stock market, gained 2.3 percent during the contest.

    “Stock contests are an educational way to learn how the stock market operates, how to research stocks, and how to track your stock’s progress,” said Ronald Belle, senior vice president and investment advisers division executive at Fifth Third Bank in Toledo. “But stock contests have a short time horizon; this contest was for 12 weeks.

    “For most investors,” Mr. Belle said, “time horizons can be many decades. Therefore, how you apply what you learned to your real portfolio will be different than searching for a quick win for the contest. Time is on your side when building a portfolio for many years to come.”

    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.

    The Minions will get $250 for the students and $250 for the school. ADTR will receive $250 for the school, and Clay8 gets $100 for the school. Prizes may be cash or gift certificates.

    The Minions and their classmates will celebrate by walking to Tano’s Pizza in downtown Swanton. While there, the fifth graders plan to invest in some cheesy bread and cinnamon sticks.

    Of course, it’s way too early to know whether the Minions or any of their classmates will pursue a career in the financial arena.

    “I kind of wonder for this group — the excitement of winning and seeing how much money you can make — that it might make some of them think about that kind of career in the future,” Mrs. Schmidt said.

    “If they become rich, I told them they have to come back and take care of their teacher — or at least give me stock tips if they become a stock market person.”

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

     

     

    FINAL STANDINGS

    Final standings in the 12-week Blade School Stock Contest, with rank, team name, school, and final portfolio total. Each team started with a mythical $40,000.

    • 1. Minions, Park Elementary, Swanton, $47,458.41
    • 2. ADTR, Springfield High School, Holland, $45,821.12
    • 3. Clay8, Clay High, Oregon, $45,280.17
    • 4. GGnoRE, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $44,319.78
    • 5. TTuttle, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $43,673.19
    • 6. Mitch5, Bowling Green High, $43,519.74
    • 7. 6Loserz, Rossford Junior High, $43,325.39
    • 8. CoolCat, Dundee (Mich.) High, $43,105.82
    • 9. Trex, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, $43,094.05
    • 10. magicw, Bowling Green High, $43,086.30
    • 11. Chiefs, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, $42,964.98
    • 12. AWGB8, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $42,788.02
    • 13. WOLFSqd, Springfield High School, Holland, $42,503.25
    • 14. purpleg, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $42,426.29
    • 15. Clay1, Clay High, Oregon, $42,413.52
    • 16. BigDawg, Dundee (Mich.) High, $42,312.59
    • 17. CLAY6, Clay High, Oregon, $42,304.29
    • 18. Team BG, Bowling Green High, $42,245.86
    • 19. Nikki, Bowling Green High, $42,224.67
    • 20. Boats, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $42,123.46
    • 21. Dogs101, Park Elementary, Swanton, $42,108.26
    • 22. jlas, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $42,063.10
    • 23. MVCDSJA, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $41,975.94
    • 24. FA4th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $41,940.39
    • 25. 8LHSTG, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $41,815.97
    • 26. MVCDSRK, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $41,713.65
    • 27. mariner, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $41,659.83
    • 28. JJRAP, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,599.95
    • 29. Risk101, Rossford Junior High, $41,507.21
    • 30. DA BEAN, Rossford Junior High, $41,490.03
    • 31. MVCDSLI, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $41,411.92
    • 32. CashFO5, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,294.59
    • 33. SPOOOON, Dundee (Mich.) High, $41,211.68
    • 34. 136627, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,107.94
    • 35. FA5thL, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $41,103.85
    • 36. Bucs, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $41,024.69
    • 37. Turnt, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,967.29
    • 38. THEMOB, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,893.49
    • 39. MVCDSJS, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $40,851.77
    • 40. cosmic, Dundee (Mich.) High, $40,849.14
    • 41. bobKATS, Bowling Green High, $40,823.45
    • 42. TurnUhh, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,591.49
    • 43. Karats, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $40,569.06
    • 44. addsubs, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $40,395.30
    • 45. stockbo, Bowling Green High, $40,381.24
    • 46. HEYAA, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,363.34
    • 47. Seahors, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $40,345.40
    • 48. CHASE08, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $40,337.41
    • 49. 5Shards, Bowling Green High, $40,320.98
    • 50. Bowties, Park Elementary, Swanton, $40,273.55
    • 51. Giraffe, Bowling Green High, $40,258.53
    • 52. one, Bowling Green High, $40,220.64
    • 53. CashFlo, Rossford Junior High, $40,213.16
    • 54. Bagels, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,180.22
    • 55. AvenG3r, Dundee (Mich.) High, $40,152.37
    • 56. SHS1, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,103.53
    • 57. gr8stok, Notre Dame Academy, Toledo, $40,062.27
    • 58. 4Saints, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,037.43
    • 59. FA6th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $40,036.82
    • 60. ganar, Bowling Green High, $40,000.84
    • 61. swag, Bowling Green High, $39,918.33
    • 62. MeGusta, Bowling Green High, $39,907.93
    • 63. SAGET22, Park Elementary, Swanton, $39,852.46
    • 64. Shnozes, Rossford Junior High, $39,846.49
    • 65. kingsto, Bowling Green High, $39,795.69
    • 66. FA5thR, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $39,772.33
    • 67. FoStock, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, $39,749.36
    • 68. teampic, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $39,748.09
    • 69. 6GRocks, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $39,710.08
    • 70. WeezMan, Dundee (Mich.) High, $39,651.93
    • 71. FISH, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,628.95
    • 72. mightyt, Bowling Green High, $39,593.98
    • 73. BSBIS, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,494.10
    • 74. TOMFORD, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,491.87
    • 75. moneymm, Bowling Green High, $39,439.32
    • 76. MOMA, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $39,381.69
    • 77. Legit 6, Rossford Junior High, $39,377.31
    • 78. VIPER, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,253.16
    • 79. 7NINJAS, Rossford Junior High, $39,224.66
    • 80. CCC, Dundee (Mich.) High, $39,146.27
    • 81. MCMM, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $39,104.77
    • 82. linda, Bowling Green High, $39,010.35
    • 83. SHS386, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,971.84
    • 84. FA8th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $38,940.38
    • 85. Clay500, Clay High, Oregon, $38,937.10
    • 86. BaZinga, Pike Delta York Middle School, Delta, $38,924.60
    • 87. BG Lexi, Bowling Green High, $38,878.74
    • 88. ZZEBRAZ, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $38,801.11
    • 89. HASHTAG, All Saints Catholic School, Rossford, $38,800.27
    • 90. slushie, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $38,730.20
    • 91. 5LOCOS, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,652.99
    • 92. 7LHSTG, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $38,613.49
    • 93. MVCDSTF, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $38,597.76
    • 94. kahbobs, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $38,508.30
    • 95. THEM, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,467.35
    • 96. Destroy, Dundee (Mich.) High, $38,434.06
    • 97. magconb, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $38,272.88
    • 98. mrToMiddle School, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $38,222.66
    • 99. TBPN, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,152.44
    • 100. Redmenz, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, $38,131.26
    • 101. FA7th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $38,050.24
    • 102. AWGB7, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $37,994.52
    • 103. NPGTOWN, North Point Educational Service Center, Graytown, $37,957.30
    • 104. MVCDSZB, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $37,821.39
    • 105. wolves, Bowling Green High, $37,813.52
    • 106. take, Bowling Green High, $37,734.72
    • 107. SHS2, Springfield High School, Holland, $37,628.44
    • 108. thejerk, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $37,570.30
    • 109. Pistach, Dundee (Mich.) High, $37,463.28
    • 110. nfl1314, Bowling Green High, $37,413.77
    • 111. PAYROLL, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $37,411.33
    • 112. Scalywg, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $37,403.43
    • 113. betty, Bowling Green High, $37,364.75
    • 114. BG Emma, Bowling Green High, $37,356.04
    • 115. bobcat1, Bowling Green High, $37,270.19
    • 116. Flamngo, Bowling Green High, $37,265.06
    • 117. TeamAce, Springfield High School, Holland, $37,228.96
    • 118. saints, Bowling Green High, $37,186.58
    • 119. votefor, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $37,127.89
    • 120. GOLD, Springfield High School, Holland, $37,086.95
    • 121. PEMDAS7, All Saints Catholic School, Rossford, $37,034.39
    • 122. PlumBum, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $36,921.02
    • 123. munchie, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $36,903.89
    • 124. BUCKETS, Springfield High School, Holland, $36,851.26
    • 125. Manatee, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $36,848.58
    • 126. Sauce, Dundee (Mich.) High, $36,825.63
    • 127. AWGB5, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $36,799.34
    • 128. MVCDSNI, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $36,751.47
    • 129. Pirates, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $36,394.67
    • 130. GROUP6, Springfield High School, Holland, $36,362.37
    • 131. johnsto, Bowling Green High, $36,337.98
    • 132. VolleGs, Notre Dame Academy, Toledo, $36,212.74
    • 133. CTDM1, Springfield High School, Holland, $36,163.52
    • 134. 2fast4u, Park Elementary, Swanton, $36,074.80
    • 135. MVCDSZS, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $35,930.48
    • 136. CatFish, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $35,785.69
    • 137. BGWolvs, Bowling Green High, $35,771.21
    • 138. Jackpot, Springfield High School, Holland, $35,736.23
    • 139. OICU812, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $35,575.88
    • 140. HOBIE, Dundee (Mich.) High, $35,445.06
    • 141. STOCKRS, Springfield High School, Holland, $35,346.07
    • 142. ClayHON, Clay High, Oregon, $35,223.29
    • 143. Welky, Rossford Junior High, $35,195.27
    • 144. THEMILS, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $35,142.92
    • 145. k3cs, Bowling Green High, $35,056.99
    • 146. teamnah, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $34,852.32
    • 147. SAP, SAP, Graytown, $34,826.03
    • 148. magicb, Bowling Green High, $34,381.67
    • 149. BetaMax, Dundee (Mich.) High, $34,186.20
    • 150. CHASE06, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $34,021.65
    • 151. TNR03, Springfield High School, Holland, $33,650.52
    • 152. Rugrats, Springfield High School, Holland, $33,307.77
    • 153. NATAS, Springfield High School, Holland, $33,199.89
    • 154. IT, Springfield High School, Holland, $32,659.40
    • 155. CHASE07, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $31,520.67
    • 156. Clay333, Clay High, Oregon, $30,998.27
    • 157. HOBIE 2, Dundee (Mich.) High, $29,777.74
    • 158. CHASE05, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $29,596.61