Hands-on simulation introduces East Central Indiana students to real-world investing and immersive learning opportunities at Miller College of Business.
Almost 70 high school students from across East Central Indiana stepped into the role of investors, responding in real time to the sometimes-chaotic rhythm of the stock market during a recent educational competition held at Ball State University.
A bell rang to open the simulated market in the ballroom of Ball State’s L.A. Pittenger Student Center. Students waved their hands to signal trades as news alerts—an oil spill, a stock going public, a sudden market shift—flashed across a large screen. They executed transactions while a live leaderboard tracked performance, and volunteers wearing green visors hurried between tables with iPads recording trades. The students spent nearly an hour analyzing information, debating strategy, and making rapid decisions under pressure—without any guidance from their instructors.
Hosted by the Miller College of Business Office of Student Success and Engagement (OSSE) in partnership with Junior Achievement of Central Indiana, the inaugural JA Stock Market Challenge at Ball State attracted 23 teams of high school students to campus in February for the live simulation.
Competitors came from Pendleton Heights High School, Wapahani High School, and Anderson High School’s Career Center (District 26). First- and second-place honors went to teams from Anderson, while Pendleton Heights earned third place.
For organizers, however, the more meaningful outcomes extended beyond the leaderboard.
Strengthening Connections Across the Region
In recent years, OSSE has taken a more intentional approach to outreach in East Central Indiana and the Indianapolis area.
“Our goal has been to grow the brand of Miller College while also attracting students to Ball State,” said Andy Morrow, assistant dean of student outcomes in OSSE. “We wanted to take a more active role in showing students what it’s actually like to learn here.”
Through an ongoing partnership with Junior Achievement, Miller College faculty and staff regularly participate in career and college fairs throughout Central Indiana. Conversations last Summer between University and Junior Achievement representatives led to a shared vision: bringing a larger, hands-on competition to campus that would blend classroom learning with a collegiate experience.
The Stock Market Challenge became that opportunity.
Before arriving on campus, students prepared in their high school classrooms, building foundational knowledge and selecting initial stock portfolios. The simulation compressed roughly 45 days of market activity into a high-energy session in which each minute represented a full trading day.
“It felt like a real stock exchange,” Mr. Morrow said. “Students were running from table to table, calling out trades. They really embraced it.”
“The JA Stock Market Challenge provides high school students with a glimpse into the exciting possibilities awaiting them in college and beyond, and into the world of work in the finance sector,” said Dr. Cathy DuBois, Bryan Dean of the Miller College of Business.
“The students who participated were bright, engaged, and eager to learn,” she continued. “They were deeply involved in their shared tasks, and the room was filled with laughter and activity. This was time well spent.”
A Glimpse of the Ball State Experience
Organizers were intentional about framing the day as more than a competition. It was also an introduction to the kind of immersive learning experiences that define Ball State.
The event opened with a panel of four Miller College students who shared their experiences with internships, networking, and applied learning. Senior property management major Layla Warner volunteered during the event and participated on the student panel.
“I loved seeing high school students taking an interest in their potential future career and getting involved,” Ms. Warner said. “It was so cool seeing how excited these students were to work with their classmates and learn more about stocks. I was also able to talk about the amazing opportunities for networking and internships through Ball State.”
On the panel, Ms. Warner shared with students that she obtained two internships through a recruiting event hosted by Ball State’s property management program. Her first was with Edward Rose and Sons in Fishers, Ind., and the second was with Trinity Property Consultants in Chicago. Through both internships, she earned commissions and received a free apartment for the Summer. She also established many connections with the Property Management Advisory Board, which led to seven job offers after her graduation in May.
Additionally, representatives from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions connected the simulation to academic pathways and campus opportunities.
“We wanted students to see that what they were doing that day mirrors what our students do here,” Mr. Morrow said.
At Miller College, students manage a real investment portfolio—currently valued at approximately $3.7 million—through a student-managed fund supported by the Ball State University Foundation. The Stock Market Challenge offered a scaled version of that hands-on approach, allowing high school students to experience the strategy and accountability that come with managing real assets.
“We always talk to prospective students about immersive learning at Ball State,” said Kathy Maple, associate director of assessment and student engagement. “This is the perfect example. They weren’t just hearing about opportunities—they were experiencing them.”
A University-Wide Effort
While Miller College and Junior Achievement led the initiative, the event reflected collaboration across campus.
Approximately 15 to 20 faculty, staff, and student volunteers supported the competition, including representatives from the Career Center, Academic Advising, and other academic departments.
Behind the scenes, additional teams from Parking Services, Facilities Planning and Management, Dining, Student Center, Digital Corps, and Marketing and Communications contributed to planning and execution. Julie Hopwood and the Division of Business Affairs team convened cross-campus meetings to coordinate logistics and ensure the event ran smoothly.
“It takes a village,” Mr. Morrow said. “It was rewarding to see so many areas of campus come together to support something that connects directly to our mission.”
Junior Achievement’s regional footprint stretches from Bloomington to just south of Fort Wayne, and organizers are already discussing hosting the event again next Fall, with the potential to expand participation.
“It was great to work with the Miller College of Business and the Admissions teams,” said Sally Mann, senior director of school and community outreach at Junior Achievement of Central Indiana. “The entire event was filled with positive energy from students, teachers, and volunteers. Ball State students were so well-spoken and positive about their futures after attending the Miller College of Business, and the high school teachers left enthusiastic about coming back with their students.”
