Volume XXX, No. 43 • Dec. 29, 2006
 

• Black Hills State University announces December graduates

• Alumnus leads team to South Dakota Stock Market Game win

• Admissions representatives to visit area schools
   

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Black Hills State University announces December graduates - top

Nearly 180 candidates for graduation participated in the recent 152nd commencement ceremony at Black Hills State University.

Graduates are listed by hometown or current residence. Degrees are indicated by the following – MS, master of science; BA, bachelor of arts; BS, bachelor of science; BSED, bachelor of science in education; AA, associate of arts; AS, associate of science.

Bachelor degree candidates who graduated with honors are noted by the following designations: cum laude (cum), grade point average of 3.5 to 3.699; magna cum laude (magna), gpa of 3.7 to 3.899; and summa cum laude (summa), gpa of 3.9 or higher. Associate degree candidates who graduated with honors are noted by the following designations: with honor, grade point average of 3.5 to 3.699; with high honor, gpa of 3.7 to 3.899; and with highest honor, gpa of 3.9 or higher.

University Honors Program scholars are designated with an H. Students graduating from the University Honors Program have met the highest standards of achievement, enrichment and service.

Alumnus leads team to South Dakota Stock Market Game win - top

A Lead-Deadwood High School team led by Black Hills State University alumnus Patrick Moriarty won the South Dakota Stock Market Game fall 2006 session with a 43.74 percent return on investment (ROI).

Moriarty’s team also took first place out of 196 teams in the high school division. Other teams in the top six were: second place, Sioux Falls Lincoln led by Joseph Johnson, 39.99 percent ROI; third place, Brookings led by Laura Quail, 33.19 percent ROI; fourth place, Brookings led by Laura Quail, 29.84 percent ROI; fifth place, Upton led by Karla Ludemann, 22.29 percent ROI; and sixth place, Upton led by Karla Ludemann, 21.98 percent ROI.

A total of 23 teams competed in the college division. Winners were BHSU students Carrie Hlavka, junior pre-physical major from Rapid City, first place with an ROI of 18.75 percent; Lacey Johnsen, senior technology major from Wessington, second place with an ROI of 17.16 percent; and Kelly Nelson, junior from Spearfish, third place with an ROI of 13.54 percent.

Finishing first out of 15 teams in the middle school division was King Elementary - Milesville, led by Carmen One Skunk, with a 7.66 percent ROI. Second place went to Patrick Henry – Sioux Falls, led by Shirley Mauss, with a 7.05 percent ROI. Beresford, led by Jonda Jensen, finished in third place with a 5.31 percent ROI.
Each team of students began with $100,000 in hypothetical “cyber dollars” and performed online research and stock trading. The teams with the highest-valued portfolios at the end of the 10-week trading period received prizes.

“Students in the state were excellent stock pickers as the top teams’ stock portfolios were much higher than comparative investments in the market indices,” said Don Altmyer, BHSU associate professor, director of the Center for Economic Education, and coordinator of the SDSMG.

The SDSMG is an innovative education tool that motivates students and supports teachers in building lifelong learning skills. It is the only stock market simulation endorsed by the South Dakota Council on Economic Education. Each year about 120,000 teams in all 50 states participate in the program. During the fall 2006 session, a record number, 616 students from 25 South Dakota schools, participated in the SDSMG.

According to Altmyer, the SDSMG is a way to integrate the fall 2006 South Dakota Board of Education mandate requiring an economics or personal finance course for high school graduation.

The SDSMG offers a vast library of learning materials correlated to national voluntary education standards in math, personal finance, business education and economics. The $5 per team registration fee includes all teacher materials, student team materials and support, including newsletters with information on the stock market and a variety of business and economic topics to stimulate student discussion in the classroom.

Free teacher training is available to assist teachers in integrating the game into their curricula. The following teacher training workshops are scheduled in Watertown, Vermillion, Spearfish, and Box Elder:

• Watertown, Tuesday, Jan. 23 from 12 noon to 3 p.m., Lake Area Technical College Tech Education Center Room 509;
• Vermillion, Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 12 noon to 3 p.m., University of South Dakota Enrichment Center;
• Spearfish, Friday, Feb. 2 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., Black Hills State University Jonas Hall Room 209; and
• Box Elder, Friday, Feb. 9 from 1 to 4 p.m., Douglas High School.

All training sessions include curriculum materials, refreshments and door prizes at no cost to the teachers. Space is limited, and reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. To make a reservation, email to DonAltmyer@bhsu.edu the name of the person who will be attending, the school name and address, the subject and grade level taught, an email address, and school phone number. A confirmation email will be sent upon acceptance.

The spring 2007 SDSMG session begins Monday, Feb. 12. A free demonstration will be available Tuesday, Jan. 16 through Friday, Feb. 2. Registrations are accepted online at www.smgww.org. For more information, contact Altmyer at DonAltmyer@bhsu.edu or 642-6266.

The SDSMG is sponsored by the BHSU Center for Economic Education, the Central States Securities Industries Association and the South Dakota Council on Economic Education.

Admissions representatives to visit area schools - top

Black Hills State University admissions representatives Beth Azevedo and Erin Richards will discuss college plans with students at two area high schools in January.

Thursday, Jan. 18 the representatives will visit Spearfish High School at 9:30 a.m. and Sturgis High School at 11:30 a.m.

High school students needing information about college costs, financial aid, housing, and academic information should plan to visit with the BHSU representatives. For more information contact the BHSU Admissions Office at 642-6343 or view the BHSU website at www.bhsu.edu.