(ROCKFORD, IL) Jefferson High School of Rockford, IL captured their first championship title at the 2007Global Economic Summit of High School Students held at Rock Valley College on Saturday, December 1, 2007. The Global Economic Summit is a regional academic competition designed by Rock Valley College Students In Free Enterprise (RVC SIFE) to provide critical thinking on how free markets operate in a global economy. This is the third year for the competition.
International delegates from several five (5) regional high schools (Jefferson, Harlem, Hononegah, South Beloit and Winnebago) each represented a country (Bhutan, Kenya, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, and Chile) and presented the economic situation of their assigned country through display boards, state of the nation essays, and oral presentations. The 97 participating students established ways to improve the quality of life through economic development and international trade. The delegates presented new international free trade agreements to visiting nations and discussed economic solutions to global issues.
The panel judges included area economic experts including Director of the NIU Office of Economic Education Stephen Karlson, Professors Stacy McCaskill and Charles Sicotte of RVC as well as Patrick Fox of Rockford East High School.
The Global Economic Summit is one of the toughest academic competitions in the State of Illinois. Students are required illustrate a complete understanding of economic concepts and apply them in all of written, visual and oral form. Led by Prime Minister Akeem Beard, the team of 30 students from Jefferson High School claimed their first title despite high-profile issues at their school this academic year. Hononegah High School representing Vietnam took first runner-up and Harlem High School representing Kenya took second runner-up.
Team awards included Winnebago High School representing Chile won Best Project Display Board; Jefferson High School representing Bhutan won Best State of the Nation Essay. Hononegah High School representing Vietnam won Best Oral Presentation.
The most prestigious individual award went to Nic Adami of Harlem High School won the Judge’s Award for outstanding performance during the oral presentation. Other individual awards went to Dan Rohrer of Hononegah High School who won the Ambassador’s Award and Akeem Beard of Jefferson High School won the SIFE President’s Award, both which were for outstanding performance during the competition.
