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Paynesville Press - June 19, 2002

Junior takes first with economics project

Junior Jessica Andrie, the daughter of Jim and DuDonne Andrie, took first place in the state in an economics program known as Commodity Challenge.

Andrie's project on crude oil took first place out of nearly 2,000 projects submitted by students throughout Minnesota. She won $500 for her project.

"It was nice to get something for a project I would have done anyway," said Andrie.

For her project, Andrie first had to choose a commodity and tell why she chose that commodity. Next she had to make graphs showing the supply and demand of her commodity. Then she needed to find general information about crude oil.

Andrie plugged her commodity into fantasy investments on the stock market for a five-week period. Finally she needed to write an essay encompassing what she'd learned from the project.

When all was said and done, Andrie had a 52-page project about crude oil.

Andrie's project was one of two chosen by PAHS teacher Jerry Meyer to be sent to the University of Minnesota-St. Paul, where members of the Department of Applied Economics judged the 2,000 entries. These judges did not base the winners on earnings made on the fantasy stock exchange, rather on the students' learning experience as taken from their final essay.

Andrie and all students who participated in the statewide program were given a chance on Monday, June 10, to tour the Minneapolis Grain Exchange and Cargill, who sponsored the Commodity Chal-lenge. These tours were followed by an awards luncheon where Andrie was presented with her award.

No student from PAHS has ever won this award before.

Andrie hopes other students will realize if they do a good job on this required classroom project, it is possible to be rewarded in a way other than a good grade.