Thomas Jefferson School fifth-grader Caroline Hersh placed first among 1,200 competitors from across the country in the Foundation for Investor Education's InvestWrite competition. Caroline received a laptop computer and a trip to Disney World for her entire family as a result of her award-winning essay, "Buy or Not to Buy...That is the Question." Caroline also is eligible to receive the grand prize, a $10,000 college scholarship which will be awarded late this spring.

Caroline's expertise in investment strategy was honed in Mr. Jeff Brown's Quest class, where students study the ins and outs of the stock market. Mr. Brown, who was named the 2006 New Jersey Economic Educator of the Year by the New Jersey Council on Economic Education, explained that he encourages his students to "use fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis research to create mathematically proven buy and sell options for a broad range of securites and to understand local, national and international events" that will impact market conditions. "I was thrilled when I heard Caroline had taken first place in the compeition," said Mr. Brown. "This could not have happend to a better student. Caroline is a great young lady and a very hard-working student."

Congratulations, Caroline!