On Tuesday, four CBA students were in New York City for the High School Fed Challenge orientation at the Federal Reserve.

Matthew Bell ’20, Justin Modin ’19, Aedan Moran ’20 and William Walsh ’19 make up CBA’s Fed Challenge team. The High School Fed Challenge is a competition designed to bring real-world economics into the classroom. Teams play the role of policymakers by analyzing economic conditions and recommending a course for monetary policy.

The group has been preparing each week during Wednesday enrichment period and got their first taste of the challenge during this orientation.

They heard from two top economists in the industry, Dick Peach and Jeff Dawson. The economists presented the students with various economic trends in the country, such as the unemployment rate and housing starts. The students were also briefed on the history of China’s economic policy and the growing significance that the Chinese economy can have on the world.

The presentations gave the students a better idea on how to interpret economic policy as it pertains to their challenge.

The foursome will return to the Federal Reserve in March for the first round of competition. As first-time participants, the CBA team will be sent a case study describing hypothetical economic conditions four weeks prior to the competition day. They will prepare and deliver a 15-minute presentation on their analysis of the case study with a monetary policy recommendation based on their analysis. They will also be subject to a Q&A session with the judges.

History teacher Mr. Mike Mazzaccaro serves as the team’s moderator and accompanied the group to the City.

About the High School Fed Challenge:

The High School Fed Challenge is an unforgettable experience in economic analysis, monetary policy decision-making, public speaking and teamwork. Fed Challenge participants develop skills—the ability to think analytically, to make effective presentations, to work as a team, to think on their feet—that are valuable in both their academic and professional careers. To compete, teams of three to five students offer a 12-minute presentation on the economy and participate in a 13-minute Q&A with the judges. Judges are New York Fed economists and staff who are experts on economics and monetary policy.

About Christian Brothers Academy:

Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) is a private, Catholic, academic preparatory school for boys located in Lincroft, New Jersey. Founded in 1959 and taught in the Lasallian tradition, CBA is dedicated to helping students become intellectually mature and morally responsible leaders for society. Through the combined efforts of the Office of Advancement and friends of the Academy, CBA awards over $1.5 million in scholarships and financial aid to current students. Experience the Academy at www.CBALincroftNJ.org.