The Forecast is Bright for Campbell Hall’s Young Economists
On April 8, AP Macroeconomics students Audrey C. ’27, David P. ’27, and Jeremy Z. ’28 represented Campbell Hall in the National Economics Challenge, competing against more than 250 teams from across Southern California. Held at the Federal Reserve Building in Downtown Los Angeles, the prestigious event tests high school students' knowledge of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and the global economy.
Last fall, Audrey, David, and Jeremy approached Kevin Kelley, high school mathematics and economics teacher, for help in finding an opportunity to participate in an economics competition. Mr. Kelley identified the National Economics Challenge as a great fit. In the first round of the contest, the team took part in a rigorous written test and emerged as one of only ten teams to advance to the Regional Finals in DTLA. During this phase, the students completed both individual and team assessments. Their strong performance qualified them for the final Quiz Bowl round, where the Campbell Hall team placed fifth!
“I had an amazing time participating in the National Economics Challenge Regional Finals,” said Audrey C. ’26. “Having a passion for economics, it was such a refreshing experience to be surrounded by other talented high schoolers who shared the same interest in the topic. I learned the importance of practice and repetition, which helped me to refine my skills in answering questions throughout the day.”
Finalists were treated to high-level presentations by two economists from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, who discussed current economic trends, including inflation, employment, and tariffs.
“I’m really proud that these self-motivated students sought out this opportunity,” said Mr. Kelley, who also served as the team’s chaperone. “Like all my AP Economics students, they’re learning to apply classroom knowledge to real-world issues, whether it’s keeping up with the news or entering the field of economics one day.”
As Campbell Hall’s first-ever entry in the competition, the team made an impressive debut. The students plan to return next year with even greater preparation and hopefully, with even more participating economics students.
“Though we didn't place first,” said Audrey, “I believe this was an amazing learning experience that allows our team to be better prepared for next year's challenge!”
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