Two Buckley Country Day School students, Elizabeth Rallakis and Richard Wang, have been named national winners in the fall 2024 SIFMA Foundation’s InvestWrite competition, a prestigious academic challenge that bridges classroom learning with the real-world skills of saving, investing, and long-term financial planning.
Rallakis placed 6th in the nation in the elementary school division, while Wang earned 8th place in the middle school division. Their national rankings were announced at a recent all-school assembly.
John Martin, vice president of education for the SIFMA Foundation, presented the awards in person, commending their thoughtful analysis, writing, and financial insight.
InvestWrite, a program of the SIFMA Foundation, challenges students participating in the Stock Market Game to apply their newfound knowledge in a compelling essay. Students respond to real-world investment scenarios, evaluate companies, and make long-term financial recommendations.
The competition draws thousands of entries from across the country each year and is designed to promote critical thinking, research, and financial literacy skills among young learners.
“This is a remarkable accomplishment for Elizabeth and Richard,” said the head of school, Jean-Marc Juhel. “Their success reflects not only their individual hard work and creativity but also Buckley’s commitment to providing students with meaningful, real-world learning opportunities.”
Buckley’s submissions are organized by middle school humanities teacher Patricia Russac, who has taught at Buckley for 20 years. Throughout her tenure at the school, more than 30 students have taken home top prizes in the Stock Market Game and InvestWrite competitions thanks to her mentorship.
“I would definitely do InvestWrite again,” said Richard, currently in 6th grade. “I wrote about diversification, and I felt like it helped my portfolio in the Stock Market Game. It’s disappointing when your stocks go down, but it’s exciting to see them go back up.”
