Schools

Live from New York (Part II)

Baldwin High School's Gifted Program Coordinator Debbie Reynolds provides another update on how Baldwin's Euro Challenge team is faring in New York City.

The team of  students Callie Corcoran, Jaclyn Sirc, Fitz Doyle and Ryan Romack defeated a four-time defending championship team from North Allegheny High School and won a regional round of the 2011 Euro Challenge competition, held at the University of Pittsburgh on March 29.

As such, Corcoran, Sirc, Doyle and Romack have advanced to the semifinals-and-final-rounds portion of the national competition, being held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from April 26-28.

The Euro Challenge is a national competition for ninth- and 10th-graders that tests their knowledge and understanding of the European economy and the euro.

Find out what's happening in Baldwin-Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This week, Baldwin High's Gifted Program Coordinator Debbie Reynolds is providing the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch with nightly updates on how Baldwin's team is doing in New York City.

Read Part I .

Find out what's happening in Baldwin-Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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By Debbie Reynolds (Thursday, April 28, 2011, 1:24 a.m.)

Live From New York ... It's Euro Challenge ... Part II.

Yesterday, the 27th, was competition day–the big event, the culmination of what we have been working toward since we started our journey last Thanksgiving.

Our day started off a little bit rough. We discovered that Callie and motion do not mix very well and that the multitude of activities on Tuesday (the plane ride, the boat trips and the elevator rides up and down the Empire State Building) played havoc with her ears. As such, she experienced severe dizziness. Fortunately, our presentation time was not until 11 a.m., so that gave her the chance to sleep a little extra and have time for the Dramamine to kick in. Callie is such a team player, and although she did not feel well, she never let on all day.

We arrived at the Federal Reserve at 10:15 a.m. and immediately went up to the 12th floor to our holding area. We joined in with the other teams who had already presented or were waiting to present. At 11, we were escorted into our presentation room.

If the kids were nervous, they didn't let on one bit; however, my heart was racing like crazy. We had three judges in the room: one from The Moody's Foundation, one from the Delegation of the European Union to the USA and one from OC&C Strategy Consultants.

All four of the kids delivered a flawless presentation!! I have seen this presentation probably a hundred times now, but this one was by far their best!! I was so incredibly proud of them. The judges' questions following the presentation were intense, and each one of the students handled it like they were pros.

Afterwards, the wait began for the announcement of the five finalist teams. We spent the next hour-and-a-half meeting the other teams from around the country and eating lunch. Finally, the announcement for the five finalist teams came, and unfortunately, we were not among the five chosen.

All of the teams were very good, and we were told that this was the closest competition yet! Understandably, the team was disappointed, but they did not let it ruin the rest of the day. The rest of the afternoon, the five finalist teams presented to the remaining 20 teams and a panel of judges. I'm sure glad I didn't have to make the decision as to who would be crowned the first-prize winners! 

At 5 p.m., we all moved to a reception at The Moody's Foundation at 7 World Trade Center. This was a great opportunity for all of the teams to unwind and mingle with the students from other schools as well as to meet all of the judges who had been present during the competition.

We also had the chance to take in magnificent views of the New York skyline and an up-close view of Ground Zero. Even as we approach the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, the site still takes my breath away. Prior to announcing the winning team, the students had the privilege of hearing from Frances Laserson, president of The Moody's Foundation, and Joao Vale de Almeida, the head of the Delegation of the European Union to the USA.

Both of those speakers praised all of the teams for their hard work and dedication to learning about the euro area, and also for taking the time to learn about economics in depth. At the end of the event, the winning team was announced as International Academy Central High School from Bloomfield Hills, MI.

Although our team did not place in the final five, as I was standing around the room looking at all of the young people, I couldn't help but be so full of pride for my team from Baldwin.

We put in such an enormous amount of time learning and preparing, and each one of these kids went from little to no knowledge of economics and the basic structure of the euro area to what I would consider advanced knowledge. In addition to the academic aspect of this competition, each one of them grew in his or her ability to speak in front of people, to answer questions thoughtfully and intelligently, and to be able to "think on their feet."

They also began creating their own worldview as they stepped outside the little box of Baldwin–or even Pittsburgh–and began to focus on the very real and very important issues facing our world economies that will directly impact them as adults. As an educator, I couldn't be more satisfied in what they accomplished or more proud of each one of them. 

We spent the rest of the evening enjoying a great dinner at Carmine's in Times Square–Fitz had his first taste of calamari–and taking in all of the sights and sounds of New York City at night. It was another great ending to another wonderful day. Today, the 28th, we will be visiting the United Nations Headquarters and taking in a few last sightseeing opportunities before our flight home.

Even though the competition is over for this year, and it is the final time for Jackie, Callie and Fitz to compete since they will be too old to participate next year, I know this is not the end of Euro Challenge in their lives. I am anxious to see what they will do with not only the knowledge that they have gained but the skills and life lessons they have gained as well. They all have a bright future.

Signing off from New York City.


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