Steven J. Green
School of International
& Public Affairs

Student testimonials on the 2014 Euro Challenge competition

NOVA HIGH SCHOOL

Preethi Alturi
Nova High School
Grade 10

Prior to the Euro Challenge, I would not have been paying attention to what the current situation is in Europe economic wise and I would not have known even the most basic economic concepts. With this challenge, I am able to take those concepts and apply them in current events. My team had to work extremely hard and become knowledgeable about the European Union and how it works and the Eurozone. The Euro Challenge greatly improved my presentation skills as well as awareness of what is happening in the world. I am able to answer questions on the spot with the information I have in my head and with the information that I have researched. This isn’t something that can be accomplished overnight- it is a process. It is not something that is easy and that is what makes this challenge so rewarding. We really had to push ourselves to be the best that we could possibly be. We met every single day after school for meetings and practices. We spent hours of time together and that fostered our teamwork and cooperation. The Euro Challenge builds on and improves skills such as public speaking, confidence, knowledge, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

            I would like to sincerely thank the Federal Reserve Bank, the Moody’s Foundation, and the Miami-Florida European Union Center of Excellence for making this whole challenge possible and for encouraging and supporting students all over the nation to participate. It is a wonderful, exciting opportunity and I am extremely proud of my teammates and all that we have achieved. Last but most definitely not the least, I want to thank my teacher, without whom I wouldn’t even be writing this. She is the heart and soul of our team and she has spent so much of her time to make sure that we succeed and enjoy every moment. She kept us motivated, strong, and confident throughout the whole competition and we couldn’t have asked for anyone better.

            We won first place in the regional competition and went to New York- a journey that I will always remember. The Euro Challenge is an experience that I will never forget and it is, and always will be, an experience that is very near and dear to my heart.

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Juan Bedoya
Nova High School
Grade 10

It's very hard to describe the wonderful experience I've had with words. Throughout this journey that I embarked on with my fellow teammates, we were not only able to meet actual people from the European Union, the Delegation, and professional economists, but we were able to learn economic terms that worldwide economists and analysts use every day. Because of the Euro Challenge I was able to expand my knowledge about the European Union, the Eurozone, and most importantly Estonia. It's very surprising how the EU does things differently when compared to the United States, and the fact that I am one of the few students that are able to explain the political, economic, and social difference between the U.S. and the EU makes me feel extraordinary. Without this challenge I wouldn't have been able to expand my overall economic concept, learn about a small country that has a huge impact on the people around it, and just step outside my comfort zone and learn about a whole new world located in Europe. The fact that my team was able to place 1st in Regionals and make it to the top 5 in New York, assures me that all the learning that took place and the night and day sweat put into practice paid off in the short and the long run. Yeah sure, this experience only lasted for a year, but in the long run I know that this is a one in life time opportunity that only a few are lucky enough to obtain and that the Euro Challenge has made me a well rounded individual, both educationally and socially. Finally I would like to thank three people that helped us reach NY, that would be my teacher, who without we would have not gotten anywhere without her, my team members, who I now consider my second family, and finally Christine Caly, who was there to guide us through our fist year of competing in the challenge.

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TRINITY PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Olivier Trapp
Trinity Preparatory School
Grade 10

The Euro Challenge was extremely organized and gave high school students the opportunity to explain economic concepts to a prestigious panel of judges. Overall, the Euro Challenge was a great opportunity to learn about the European Union and the global economy. On the other hand, New York was also incredible. We stayed at a hotel in the heart of Manhattan and we truly felt like we experienced the city in the best way possible.

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Amber Yang
Trinity Preparatory School
Grade 9

The Euro Challenge is a wonderful learning experience from the research to the actual competition day. Understanding the economics and history of the Euro Union is a difficult task that not many students are able to take on, and I am very grateful to have learned so much. The Euro Challenge has sparked a great amount of interest in me towards learning more about the economic policies of our world. The Euro Challenge provided a different educational experience rather than rote reading and memorization. Instead of preparing a presentation about the policies that currently exist in the Euro Union, my teammates and I were presented with the challenge of how to change the current problems in today’s world. The presentation and speaking facet of the competition allowed me to truly gain a comprehensive view of the Euro Union. The preparation of the presentation also improved my research skills. I was able to link the knowledge that I gained to the current situations of the world. The Euro Challenge provided a very professional atmosphere, and I especially enjoyed the question and answer session with the judges. It was an honor to present the history and solutions to problems in the Euro Union. My teammates and I worked very hard throughout the year to prepare for our presentation, and we were overjoyed to learn that we qualified for the National competition in New York City. It was a great opportunity to present the Welfare System of Germany in the Federal Reserve Bank, and qualifying to the final round of the national competition was a “dream come true.” Being a Freshman this year, I am most definitely looking forward to learning more about the Euro Union next year.