Brainerd economics team advances to regional

A Brainerd High School Economics Challenge team recently earned the state title and will compete Sunday in Minneapolis in the multistate regional Economics Challenge.

Brainerd Economics Challenge coach Dave Stark said if the students do well in their economics class, they will do well in the competition.

The team includes seniors Jacob Folkeringa and Andrew Mehr and juniors Jennifer Dens and Jason Houle. The team will compete in the Adam Smith Division Advanced Placement.

Stark said two years ago Brainerd placed second in the multistate regional competition, and this marked the fourth time Brainerd won the state competition.

At the state contest, Stark said Brainerd beat Moorhead, which was national champion last year.

"I was incredibly proud of the kids for winning state," said Stark. "There are good kids here (at the high school) and this (win) demonstrates that."

Students from Minnesota, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Kansas will compete Sunday. Hibbing High School will compete in the non-advanced placement division.

The Economics Challenge consists of a series of tests of economic understanding and reasoning ability. Winner of the regional competition will advance to the qualifying competition for nationals in May in New York City.

JENNIFER STOCKINGER can be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.