Personal Finance & Entrepreneurship
Budgeting, Investing, & Business Pitches
Competitions, Events, Simulations, Courses & Lessons
The Bradford & Sullivan County Investing &
Personal Budgeting Challenge
L to R: John Kirkowski, CFO - PIMCO; Steve Brion, Principal - Troy Area High School
Thanks to Mr. Kirkowski, the first-place student in the Spring 2025 Investing Challenge will receive a Chromebook and monetary prizes.
Mr. John Kirkowski shared, “As someone who was raised in Bradford County, I have always appreciated the strength of the communities and schools of Pennsylvania. I am grateful for the opportunity to support the goals and programs of the Brighter Financial Futures.”
The big competition begins February 10th with the full use of the Personal Finance Lab, from the global leader in financial simulations, StockTrak. The highest ranking portfolio student will receive a $100, $50 for second and $30 for third with monetary prizes for teachers too.
All Bradford & Sullivan County schools are invited to participate in the elementary, middle, or high school competitions
all school year.
In the Late Spring Quarter Semester Program, we celebrate with extra special local/county middle and high school competitions.
Spring Semester Prizes
Top Investing Challenge Wins:
First Place - $100 - top game, $60 teacher
Second Place - $50 game, $40 teacher
Third Place - $30 game, $30 teacher
Personal Budgeting,
Challenge Wins:
First Place - $100 - top game, $60 teacher
Second Place - $50 game, $40 teacher
Third Place - $30 game, $30 teacher
*Must be active games, no cash only portfolios
The Budget Game must be completed to win prizes.
Entrepreneurship Prizes:
Scholarships and more!
Click here to view prize details
Leaders' Board - Spring 2025
Special funding for our programs has been made available for Bradford & Sullivan County thanks to John Kirkowski, CFO of PIMCO, California.
Our sponsored Personal Finance Lab includes both a Personal Budgeting Game and an Investing Challenge.
The Budget Game simulates the experience of students living on their own while managing their bills, credit cards & finances. The game plays out 18-months but takes about 6-hours real time to complete.
The Investing Challenge offers students the opportunity to manage a hypothetical $100,000 portfolio by investing in stocks chosen from the American, New York and NASDAQ exchanges with live market data.
Our Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition is a business plan challenge that jump-starts minds and encourages critical thinking. Students practice the skills necessary for writing a successful business plan; written and oral communication; math proficiency; economic understanding; technological competence; business aptitude.
Our competitions teach students budgeting, investing and other financial literacy skills through hands-on learning activities in the classroom. For more information on our partnership with these sponsors.
Sponsored Schools
The schools invited to participate are Athens Area, Canton Area, Northeast Bradford, Sayre Area, Towanda Area, Troy Area, Wyalusing Area and Sullivan County's only school district,
along with other private schools in the county.
If you are ready to create a sponsorship relationship which exceeds your goals and gives you the chance to become a part of our growing, passionate organization, contact us at CShirk@penncfl.org or call 570-975-5149.