Econ Challenge, JROTC, Washington D.C., and AP Exams

Compiled by ERIC ERICKSON, Social Studies Teacher

• Eight Como AP Macroeconomics students spent Mar. 13 at the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis. Two teams of four students each represented Como in the Urban Regional Invitational Econ Challenge. Participants worked both individually and collaboratively to demonstrate their knowledge of economic concepts and theories, culminating with the top two teams going head to head in the quiz bowl final. Additionally, students enjoyed breakfast and lunch at “The Fed” and toured the facility, learning more about the Federal Reserve’s role in our banking system.

Photo right: Como AP Econ students Mario Sanchez-Lopez, Keleenah Yang, Eli Pattison and Jackson Kerr teamed up to win the Urban Regional Econ Challenge at the Federal Reserve and advance to state. (Photo courtesy of Paula Keller, Minnesota Council of Economic Education)

With a total of 14 teams competing in the Urban Regional, Como’s teams both finished in the top three. The team of Mario Sanchez-Lopez, Keleenah Yang, Eli Pattison and Jackson Kerr qualified for the quiz bowl and emerged as the regional champions. With the victory, they advanced to the State Econ Challenge on Apr. 11 at The Fed, against five other regional winners from across the state.

• Twenty-six seniors currently studying AP Government and AP Macroeconomics recently returned from a busy week of action and touring in Washington D.C. The participating students were part of the national Close Up program, which promotes education in democracy and uses the capital as a living classroom. Como student highlights included visiting the House of Representatives in session, the Supreme Court, Senate committee meetings, a U.S. Capitol tour, national monuments, memorials, Smithsonian Museums and prominent Washington neighborhoods.

Photo left: Como AP Government students participating in the national Close Up program had policy meetings with their elected officials on Capitol Hill last month. The students are pictured with Senator Amy Klobuchar in the Hart Senate Office Building. (Photo by Klobuchar staff)

The students had policy meetings on Capitol Hill with Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Tina Smith, Congresswoman Betty McCollum and Congressman Tim Walz. Throughout the week, Como students were also in policy discussions and simulations with peers from across the nation. The Como students examined issues from multiple perspectives, listening to alternative points of view, and developing a greater sense of political efficacy to make a difference in their community and country.

• Cadets in the Como Marine JROTC earned a spot in the National Academic Bowl Finals for JROTC programs. William Farley, Joseph Newman, Anderson Xiong and Francisco Dominguez advanced to the championships in Washington D.C. which will take place in June. This is the second consecutive year that a Como MJROTC team has achieved the opportunity to compete on the national level. The cadets diligently studied and prepared to try and master fundamental ACT and SAT knowledge that is base of the contest. It certainly served them well!

• The JROTC Drill Team also had success in its most recent competition, which was held in Sioux Falls, SD on Mar. 24. Como’s cadets took home the championship trophy. A dozen schools from across the region participated in this annual event. It’s the second time in school history that Como has earned the top prize.

• The AP Exam season is rapidly approaching. Hundreds of Como students will be studying and reviewing their class content in preparation for the Advanced Placement tests in May. Como will administer over AP 550 exams in total, to hundreds of students who are completing their college-level coursework this academic year. AP courses are instructed by Como teachers and regulated by the AP College Board.

• St. Paul’s Regional History Day event was held on Mar. 17 at Johnson High School. Como students earned the honor of advancing to the State History Day at the University of Minnesota in two different categories. For individual exhibits, state qualifiers were Caitlin Jones for the Integration of College Basketball, Emma Mueller for The Lavender Scare and Kayla Selbitschka for Hela Cells. For Group Website, Kao Nou Lee, Lee Thao and William Farley qualified for state with their work on the Secret War in Laos. Earning honorable mention at regions were Pany Thor, Trinh Nguyen and David Amobi for their website on the Kent State Massacre, and Roa Lay and Naw Sei for their group exhibit on the Chinese Exclusion Act.

• The Como Park High School Booster Club recently announced the 2017-2018 Grant Awardees from Como’s extracurricular clubs, teams, and programs. Award winners were BEASTBot (Robotics), Cougar Journal, Close Up Washington D.C., Student Council, MCJROTC, Youth in Government, Technovation Apps Club, Boys Soccer, Choir, Instrumental Music, and the Pan African Student Union.

Booster Club grants are made possible with funding from the Give to the Max campaign and Como fundraiser donations. Many thanks to the community members who support Como Park High School and the many wonderful programs that help serve students.

• Como hosted an Opportunity/Career Fair in the school commons during the lunch periods of Mar. 29. Twenty-five vendors came to promote programs, internships, scholarships, and potential career paths for Como students. Companies and organizations represented a wide range of the local economy and business community including Warners’ Stellian, 3M, Renewal by Anderson, Aveda, Dunwoody College of Technology, the Hmong American Partnership and even the St. Paul Saints.

• Also on Mar. 29, during the last hour of the day before spring break commenced, the bleachers were packed inside the Como Gymnasium for the annual Student/Faculty Basketball Game. Students were highly entertained by the staff trying to play basketball against the squad of seniors representing the Class of 2018! The fun-filled event also included the halftime performance by the teacher dance troupe. To no one’s surprise, the final score of the game favored the students, and everyone shared some laughs, starting spring break with a smile.