For immediate release - December 7, 2009
	For more information contact: Jo Ann Murray Project Director Invest Ed® STARS (405) 325-6882 Amy Sanders Events Coordinator Invest Ed® STARS (405) 325-7452 www.investedok.org

NORMAN, OK – The Invest Ed^® “Students Tracking and Researching the Stock Market” (STARS) unbiased investment education program recognized its fall winners at an awards ceremony held December 5 on the University of Oklahoma campus. This project challenges high school students to learn the importance of investing as a long-range tool, securities fraud awareness, and time value of money. The December 5 event was the ninth semi-annual awards ceremony for Invest Ed® and its record-breaking fall participation of 1,630 Oklahoma high school students.

Report winners representing six regions and one overall state winner are honored each semester. Congratulations to the fall 2009 winners: Jeremy Wagner, sophomore, Mount Saint Mary High School, Central region; Jessica Limke, senior, Claremore High School, NE and STATE winner; Carlie Wood, senior, Weatherford High School, NW; Lance Nichols, senior, Chickasha High School, SC; Sarah Cox, junior, Coalgate High School, SE; Taylor Lanman, senior, and Mitchell LeFebvre, sophomore, Lawton Eisenhower High School (tie), SW.

“[The project] has been very beneficial. I will use it later in life,” Limke said. Each regional winner received $250 and a plaque presented by Irving Faught, Administrator, Oklahoma Securities Commission. State winner Limke received $1,000 and a plaque. Winning teachers received $100 each. Limke’s teacher, Lynn Steidley, has had three regional winners previously; this was her first state winner. Mrs. Steidley has recently incorporated the STARS program in her National Board re-certification process. Steidley comments, “Invest Ed^® teaches skills that are practical as well as necessary for life. My students participate in Invest Ed^® with enthusiasm and realize the program's value as they research and reflect on the process. I am always so proud as I read their reports which confirm all of the knowledge they have acquired. However, the impact of Invest Ed^® reaches well beyond high school as my former students continually communicate this to me."

“The secret of this program is the teachers,” said Faught. All six winning teachers along with three administrators were in attendance Saturday. Bill Trice, seven-time winning teacher from Lawton Eisenhower High School, commented “I always think it’s a real thrill when students go buy stocks at the end of the process, and I have had several students do that.” Terri Gallaway from Chickasha High School stated, “As a teacher, one of the things I enjoyed most was seeing a more personal side of the students when I read their reports.”

“This was the first time I have ever been interested in buying stock. I will definitely do it in the future,” said Chickasha senior Lance Nichols. Several students thanked Invest Ed® STARS for providing tools to manage their money wisely.

Student participants researched stocks, decided which stocks to buy, and completed a risk assessment. Students set investment goals, created an online portfolio, and tracked results. At the end of the tracking period, students prepared a report detailing their investment process and explained what they learned. Winners are selected based on their reports rather than ending values of their portfolios.

Ripple-effect student benefits reported by participating teachers include improved critical thinking, math, and research skills; additionally, students practice setting goals, meeting deadlines, and writing reports. Participating students are experiencing the impact of compound interest and opportunity cost. Participating students are opening savings accounts, buying CDs, and starting Roth IRAs.

Bob Bailey, seven-time winning teacher from Weatherford High School, said “I have been teaching for a lot of years now, and this is the most exciting program I have been involved with. I have a lot of parents say ‘I wish I had had this program when I came through.’” Invest Ed^® is managed by the Center for Independent and Distance Learning within University of Oklahoma Outreach, College of Continuing Education and the Oklahoma Securities Commission. Since its inception in July 2005, 816 Oklahoma teachers have been trained, and 10,739 students have participated. A new semester begins January 2010.

Visit www.investedok.org for more information.

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Invest Ed^® is an unbiased, non-profit investment education program with the sole objective of increasing Oklahoman's investment knowledge and fraud protection. This multi-faceted investment literacy education program is made possible by the Oklahoma Securities Commission and produced by the University of Oklahoma OUTREACH ~ College of Continuing Education.