Emily Howatson, Alex Taikato and Lewis Marchant, three Year 13 Economics students from Stratford High School, were proud and delighted to win the Massey University Economics Challenge for 2013.
On Friday August 30 the small team, accompanied by their economics teacher, Alec Benson, drove down early to the Manawatu Campus of Massey University and spent a gruelling three hours answering questions on economics. The Stratford High School team were the only group from Taranaki to compete in the competition.
The first round covered topics from the NCEA syllabus and was asked on Lewis says that while they didn't do great in round one, "we clawed our way back to the top". The second round focussed on questions to do with the New Zealand economy, Alex describes that this round was based on historical events and says that "having team members with rural backgrounds really gave us an advantage." Round three required prompt 'first on the buzzer' answers to questions about the world of economics.
Teacher, Alec Benson, describes the team as "poised and calm, answering well questions on theory, then took control of the rounds in which they could display their broad knowledge of economics."
The team finished clear winners ahead of Palmerston North Boys, and now each team member has $3000 as a scholarship for studies at Massey University's Commerce and Economics Department.