Football isn’t the only fantasy sport being contested among students around Carbon County this fall.

Students around the area are once again competing in a virtual stock market challenge against students around the county and state.

The Stock Market Challenge, sponsored by Mauch Chunk Trust Co. and organized by the Pennsylvania Council on Financial Literacy, will take place from Oct. 12-Dec. 18.

Students from Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Palmerton, Panther Valley, Tamaqua and Weatherly, as well as private school students, are all invited to take part in the challenge.

Classes that took part in the challenge during the spring said it was a great opportunity to learn about fiscal awareness and responsibility.

“Being financially literate isn’t just something that can help with the stock market, it’s something that can help throughout our entire lives,” said Christian Bradley, a Jim Thorpe Area High School who participated in the challenge this spring.

The challenge lasts for 10 weeks, and involves schools from across the state. In the spring, there is another 10-week competition for the local schools only.

The game gives each student $100,000 in virtual dollars to invest in real stocks. While the money they are investing is not real, the prizes are: up to $10,000 available statewide.

In order to help students to make the most from their virtual investments, the program provides videos, lessons and resources for them and their teachers. Those resources are available to them throughout the school year.

During the spring game, Panther Valley students took top prize for high school students followed by Weatherly and Jim Thorpe.

At the middle school level, Palmerton placed first followed by Panther Valley and Tamaqua.

In the spring, students succeeded despite facing a difficult financial climate during the early days of the pandemic.

“I understand a lot more about the stock market now, I’m going to invest in it when I’m older,” said Jim Thorpe student James Costlow.

For more information on the stock market challenge, or to register, visit https://www.penncfl.org/carboncounty.