 
Student Teams from Lexington High
and Lugoff-Elgin High School
Win First “EconomicsChallenge” State Championship
Twenty teams of four students each met in Columbia in April to compete in the first annual South Carolina EconomicsChallenge state championship. At the end of the day, teams from Lexington High School and Lugoff-Elgin High laid claim to the title of state champions.
The winners in the Adam Smith Division were James Baxley, Oleg Chavchich, Benjamin Combs and Kayla Smith, the “Senior IB” team from Lexington High School. Ironically, they defeated fellow Lexington High students Scott Estes, William Mackey, Rebecca Dial and Danielle Ricciardi. Both Lexington High School teams were coached by teacher Jane Kennedy.
Dreher High School students Daniel Kellogg, Mike Utsey, Case Stiglbauer and Ariel Guinn finished in third place. They were coached by teacher Karen Brown.
Luke Griffin, Jesse Henry, Ron Stroble and Jeri Webb from Lugoff-Elgin High School made up the first place-winning team in the David Ricardo Division. These “LEHS Econ Stars” were coached by Kelley Little. They competed for the state championship title against Ridge View High School students Isaac Badillo, Sara Barcus, Veronica Paxton and Michael Tensley, who were coach by teacher Kurt Stiglbauer.
The “Saints II” from Myrtle Beach Christian Academy finished in third place. Students Casey Crook, Patrick Henry, Jordan Lane and Jay Lang were coached by teacher Vicki Marcis.
The EconomicsChallenge is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge of economic literacy by competing with other students from across the state. The students first take online tests. The top 20 teams then come to Columbia to compete in the state finals. There they take written tests and finally compete in a “Quiz Bowl.” The 2008 first place team in each division won a laptop computer for each team member. Second place winners received $200 gift cards; third place winners, $100 gift cards. The teachers coaching the teams won the same prizes as their students.
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