The Panther Valley School Board last week recognized the achievements of fifth grader Jason Porreca, who took top spots in Stock Market Investment Challenge at both the county and state levels.

Porreca, a gifted student at Panther Valley Intermediate School, placed second in Carbon County and ninth in the state in the challenge in which students “invest” $100,000 in the stock market from February to May.

Students learn how to invest money, and buy, sell and trade stocks through the challenge. They also studied how stocks are performing over six months, a year and two years to make their investments.

Porreca’s final portfolio value was $104,646.46 over the 10 weeks in a real time stock market simulation.

This is the first year that a Panther Valley student placed in the state.

— Kelly Monitz Socha