Students Focus on Global Economy at International Summit at Mississippi College

These Germantown High seniors represented Thailand at the International Economic Summit at Mississippi College on November 29. Pictured, from left to right, are: Ethan Yandow, Hayden Adcock, Brady King and Hunter Hardy.During the conference on the Clinton campus, they learned about global economics. The Mississippi Council on Economic Education was the sponsor.

President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming administration in Washington will help the world economy grow over the next few years, some experts predict.

While it’s still a little early to tell for sure, 300 Mississippi students grasped the latest economic trends impacting 66 nations this fall.

Students from 15 schools in metro Jackson, the Gulf Coast, and cities like Starkville stepped up their understanding of global economics at a Mississippi College conference on Tuesday.

The Mississippi Council on Economic Education’s 7^th annual International Summit attracted students striking trade deals, and learning more about currency rates and exports. They arrived dressed in the attire of countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and other continents.

“This makes it a fun and engaging way to learn about economics,” says Selena Swartzfager, president of the Jackson-based council. “It’s important for them to understand the global economy.”

Promoting a better understanding of the economy for high school and middle school students across the Magnolia State is a key mission for the council. Group leaders furnished teachers with materials to get the students prepared in recent weeks.

The students say they discovered many things they didn’t know about the nations they represented. They found out about the high rates of poverty and malnourishment for children in Vietnam. The students learned about the daily turmoil that’s transformed Syria into a war zone.

“We are seeing lots of new teachers and students,” Swartzfager said. Newcomers included students from Brinkley Middle School in Jackson. Germantown High in Madison County brought members of its new economics club.

Her students absorbed valuable insights they would “not just get out of a book,” said LaTisha Jackson, a Brinkley Middle School math teacher. There were 20 teens representing six Brinkley teams soaking up lessons on world economics.

Participants at the Anderson Hall event included professionals judging school teams at the competition. They included Mississippi College graduate Ali Garrison, a staff member with the Horne LLP accounting firm in metro Jackson.

The MC School of Business and businesses across the region partnered with educators to support the November 29 program on the Clinton campus.

For more information, go to the council website at www.mscee.org or call 601-974-1091.