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GBHS students participate in stock market simulation
Students learn by investing virtual cash
2022VirtualStocks
Matt Hiss of Hiss Sherman Wealth Management presents Visa gift cards to the top winners of the Hiss Sherman Investment Challenge. Pictured are, from left: teachers Kyle Kriegh and Bill Cook; students Braxton Love, Andrew Neiman and Connor DeLong; and Hiss.
Published: Mar 23, 2022, 3:11 PM

Learning the risk and reward of Wall Street, Great Bend High School students and USD 428 staff participated in the annual Hiss Sherman Investment Challenge during the month of February.

Utilizing a software called “How the Market Works,” 280 students and 40 staff members started the month with $100,000 in virtual cash to invest according to what they have been learning in class and their own discretion. The online trading platform provides research tools, investment content, and real-time trading to simulate participation in the stock market.

At the end of the month-long simulation, the top three student winners were Braxton Love, first; Andrew Neiman, second; and Connor DeLong, third. Combined, these three students saw gains of over $77,000 from their investing strategies.

“In five years we’ve grown the simulation from 40 participants to over 280,” said Lacy Wolters, GBHS career/ACT coordinator. “It’s exciting to see this enthusiasm around this exercise grow. It’s nice to see students participating year after year and growing their knowledge and insight in the stock market.”

“The investment challenge allows students to apply what they are learning in the classroom to a realistic simulation,” said Wolters. “Students experience the movement of the market in real-time, both positive and negative, during the course of the month-long competition, and February 2022 was a wild ride.”

“It’s our hope to give students a good, real-life foundation in the world of investments and financial planning,” said Matt Hiss, investment advisor representative with Hiss-Sherman Wealth Management. “We receive great feedback from this program as participation continues to nearly double each year. Their excitement tells us we are offering a program that students both learn from and enjoy. We are happy to partner with the school to give students and staff members this experience.”

Hiss Sherman Wealth Management also opened a staff version of the competition again this year, which awarded prizes to the top three USD 428 staff traders in the virtual simulation. Science teacher Bill Cook placed first, social studies teacher Kyle Kriegh placed second, and Great Bend Middle School STEM teacher Amy Stein placed third.

For more information on the Great Bend High School Personal Finance and Investing class or the “How the Market Works” simulation, please contact Lacy Wolters at 620-793-1521.

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Amy Stein, a teacher at GBMS, also received a gift card for placing third. - photo by Photos courtesy of Great Bend USD 428
GBHS students bring home top honors at Job Olympics
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Great Bend High School students and teachers pose for a photo following the annual Job Olympics, held March 26 in Hays. From left: Brandi Suchy, interpreter and coach; Payton Edwards, 10th grade; Jamie Patton, 12th grade; MaKayla Cross, 11th grade; Faith Mead, 10th grade; Rhonda Glenn, special education teacher and coach; and Trish Berger, special education teacher, work Study coordinator and coach.
Published: Apr 8, 2025, 2:31 PM
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MaKayla Cross competes in a grocery packing event at the Job Olympics.

Four students from Great Bend High School put their skills to the test and brought home top honors during the annual Job Olympics, held March 26 in Hays.

Representing GBHS at this day-long event were students MaKayla Cross, Jamie Patton, Payton Edwards and Faith Mead. These outstanding students competed in a variety of hands-on events designed to build employability skills and boost confidence for future career success. Their hard work and preparation paid off with impressive results:

• 1st Place – Small Gas Engines, Rolling Silverware

• 2nd Place – Sorting Recyclables, Kids Meals Packaging

The Job Olympics provides students with opportunities to practice real-world job tasks, connect with employers, and engage in meaningful social experiences. The event aims to build motivation to learn job skills, improve social interactions, foster new friendships, and develop self-confidence. Participants also receive valuable feedback on their personal employability skills.

“The students not only gained practical skills that will serve them throughout their lives, but also built friendships with students from other schools and communities,” shared Trish Berger, Vocational Program Coordinator and Special Education Teacher at GBHS. “It’s inspiring to see their growth and enthusiasm during this event.”

Accompanied by three dedicated coaches, the GBHS team embraced every opportunity the Job Olympics had to offer, demonstrating perseverance and a positive attitude in each competition. Events like these reinforce the importance of community partnerships and showcase the talents and abilities of students with special needs.

For more information about the vocational programs at Great Bend High School, contact Trish Berger at 620-793-1521.

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Payton Edwards competes in the grocery stocking event at the Job Olympics.