Jr High Student Wins Big in the Stock Market

April 21, 2022

Nichole Hannahs,

If you want to make some money in the stock market you may want to take some advice from a student at Philo Junior High.

8th grader Payton Byers says he enjoys math, so maybe it’s no surprise he was the top investor in the state for Junior High Students in the Stock Market Game.

The game is a contest where students are given $100,000 in fake funds to invest in a portfolio. Byers portfolio was valued at $111,084.44. He edged out the second place student by less than $40.

“I only picked a couple stocks. I didn’t invest in many different companies but the only strategies that I used were I looked in trend lines and stuff like that, when the stock falls and a one year, five year span. Pretty much that’s it,” explained Byers.

Students take part in the program through the Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center’s, Student Connections Program. Students starting playing in October of 2021 and were tracked through April 2022. Community and Park National Banks each provided funding so students could access the game.

“I think it makes our future adults more comfortable with understanding and value of the stock market as well as mutual funds and all of those things to be able to save for their future, for their retirement as well as taking care of their families. I think it’s very important. It helps make a more rounded citizen as they grow up,” said MVESC Gifted Education Service Coordinator Colette Smith.

Byers offers some tips to those looking to invest.

“Play it safe I guess. I don’t know. I mean just take your best shot at it. It’s not something that you know you’re going to make money off of, so it’s really taking a chance, but you got to trust yourself and what you pick and be smart about it,” advised Byers.

Byers will compete Monday at the University of Cincinnati and discuss his project in front of a panel.

Here’s how other students from Caldwell, Coshocton, Crooksville, Franklin, Logan-Hocking, Maysville, Morgan, Newcomerstown, Ridgewood and River View did in the Stock Market Game.