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During a recent session of The Stock Market Game, a national investment simulation competition, a University of Arkansas at Monticello sibling team won the top prize among college students from Arkansas.

Economics Arkansas, a statewide organization dedicated to promoting economic literacy, organized The Stock Market Game in Arkansas and covered the entry fee for participating teams. Student teams began the simulation with $100,000 and self-selected stocks with the theoretical money. The 13-week simulation ran from September 9 through December 6.

Jaquenton Harris, a junior at UAM majoring in business administration with an emphasis in finance, and his sister, Jalisha Harris, a senior at UAM majoring in nursing, entered The Stock Market Game as a team and won first place in the undergraduate division for growing their investment by the greatest dollar amount. This is the second consecutive semester that Jaquenton Harris has earned this prize.

Jalisha Harris shared how the experience benefited her as someone without a finance background, stating, “Competing alongside my brother, Jaquenton, in The Stock Market Game was a truly special experience. As someone pursuing a career in nursing, financial literacy isn’t something that’s typically emphasized in my field. However, thanks to Jaquenton and the UAM Investment Club, I’ve gained valuable knowledge that will help me make smarter financial decisions in the future. This experience showed me how important it is to understand investing, no matter your profession, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have learned alongside my brother.”

“I’m honored to have won The Stock Market Game again, especially this time alongside my sister,” Jaquenton Harris said. “This win feels even more meaningful because I got to share the experience with Jalisha and teach her about investing. Our strategy was grounded in the knowledge I gained through the UAM Investment Club, including insights from the club’s trip to Washington, D.C., as well as my experience as a travel agent, which helped me identify the best companies for potential returns. I’m grateful to Dr. Shanna Knowles, Mrs. Becky Phillips, Mr. Kevin Stephenson and Mr. Scott Saffold for their support throughout this journey and for helping me further my financial literacy through the UAM Investment Club. I also want to thank Mr. Greg Hatley for taking the time to meet one-on-one and provide valuable feedback on the stocks Jalisha and I were considering.”

For Jaquenton Harris, the victory was not just about winning but also about proving consistency in his skill. He earned his first win in The Stock Market Game when he competed alongside UAM Investment Club members during the spring 2024 simulation. Following the win, he was motivated to compete again after a conversation with Kevin Stephenson, a sponsor of the UAM Investment Club, in which Stephenson challenged him to prove that his first win was due to skill, not luck. Stephenson emphasized that true expertise is demonstrated by repeated success.

Dr. Shanna Knowles, assistant professor of management for the School of Business at UAM and faculty co-advisor for the UAM Investment Club, praised the Harris siblings for their efforts, stating, “Jaquenton and Jalisha’s win is a true testament to the power of collaboration and continuous learning. It’s commendable that Jaquenton chose to partner with Jalisha this time, teaching her the skill of investing and broadening her financial literacy. I'm proud of Jaquenton for using Kevin Stephenson’s challenge as motivation to prove that his first win wasn’t a fluke but a result of true skill that is driven by his keen focus on what is happening daily in world news.”

Economics Arkansas recognized the Harris siblings, as well as elementary, junior high and high school winners of The Stock Market Game at a statewide ceremony on January 23 at the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas. They were awarded a cash prize, medallions and certificates at the ceremony to celebrate their performance in the undergraduate division.

For more information about the UAM School of Business or the UAM Investment Club, contact Dr. Shanna Knowles at knowless@uamont.edu or 870-460-1311.   

(Photo credit: Braden Mitchell Photography)