A team of students from Hardin High School has emerged as state champions in The Stock Market Game™, outpacing 618 teams in their region and topping 4,174 teams across Texas.
After 3.5 months of simulated trading and strategic investing, the team—Brian Slankard, Walter Whalin, Abbey Lanier, and Landon Ponton—secured first place in both their region and the state. Their performance highlighted the power of research, collaboration, and financial literacy education.
“Playing the Stock Market Game was both exciting and challenging,” said Landon Ponton. “It felt rewarding to see my investments grow and to make smart choices based on research and market trends. I learned a lot about how the market works and gained confidence in analyzing stocks. However, it wasn’t always easy—there were times when my decisions didn’t pay off, and watching losses pile up was frustrating. It taught me patience, discipline, and the importance of not panicking under pressure. Overall, the experience was a valuable mix of wins, mistakes, and important lessons about risk and strategy.”
Brian Slankard credited their success to a focused approach: “Over the past 3.5 months in the Stock Market Game, I learned how to research and invest in the stock market using an imaginary $100,000. I helped lead my team by focusing on AI-related stocks, which showed strong growth potential. I tracked trends, made strategic decisions on when to buy, and took profits when our investments were up. This experience taught me the importance of timing, diversification, and staying informed about market news. Overall, I gained a better understanding of how investing works and how to make smart financial decisions.”
Abbey Lanier emphasized the fast-paced nature of the experience: “Playing the stock market game was like riding a roller coaster—exciting, unpredictable, and sometimes a little overwhelming. I quickly realized how fast things can change, with prices swinging dramatically based on news, earnings reports, or even a single tweet. The more I paid attention to what was happening in the world and how it affected the market, the better I understood the moves and could react more strategically.”
The Stock Market Game™ is an educational simulation that allows students to invest a virtual $100,000 in real-time markets, teaching economics, investing, and personal finance. At Hardin High School, it is part of the economics curriculum, giving students hands-on experience in financial decision-making and critical thinking.
“These students mastered market trends, made bold moves, and stayed committed to learning—and it paid off big time,” said their teacher, Amanda Key. “Their performance shows how real-world simulations can build confidence, critical thinking, and money management skills for life.”