What’s Right With Schools: Students in Hamden compete in Bloomberg Trading Challenge

HAMDEN, Conn. (WTNH) — From Benham Street in Hamden to Wall Street. Students are learning risk and reward, competing on a global level at Sacred Heart Academy.

As the opening bell rings, investors buy and trade on Wall Street, and in schools. Around the world, Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden is one of them, competing in a Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge.

"We get a million dollars to invest and we can pick whatever stocks we want," Sacred Heart Academy Department Chair Michael Marcello said.

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Marcello is guiding one of the only high school teams in Connecticut.

He uses the same terminology professionals use for stock analysis and portfolio management.

"Financial professionals all around the world use them, mostly for those reasons and we have access to those services for our students," Marcello said.

Students get to compete and learn how it all works in the process.

"There's always safe stocks, we have a few ones we know their trends are doing well and everything will get some profit off of that. It may not be the most profit but it will still make some," Senior Maya Quaranca said.

While this is virtual money the girls are working with, there's an opportunity to earn real Bloomberg certifications.

Annika Burr admits, that it's empowering to have an opportunity most schools don't offer. Even more so to be a woman working in a male-dominated industry.

"I think it's very powerful and so good so many girls are into this. So many people are interested in coming to Bloomberg even if they're not in finance, they're like I think I want to go after school and get my certificate in this and I think that's really great," Burr said.