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The Kurt Thomas Investment Challenge, in its fourth year, is an Internet stock market game where high school students mock-invest $100,000 over a ten-week period. The idea is to teach them basic investment and stock market skills, and to help them learn how to handle money.

The Investment Challenge began with 25 students in one New York City school. It kept expanding, and now spans 13 schools and over 1,500 students.

Merrill Lynch is a big part of the Kurt Thomas Investment Challenge. The winning students -- those who got the best return from their investments -- receive paid internships with Merrill Lynch.

Also on hand to announce the 2004 winners were Eddy Bayardelle, first vice president and head of Global Philanthropy, Merrill Lynch; Robert Strong, executive director of the Stock Market Game Program and the Foundation for Investor Education; and, Ronnie Solow, director of Special Projects at the N.Y.C. Department of Education.

The 17 winning Kurt Thomas Investment Challenge students received:

- Merrill Lynch paid internships (10 winners)

- SIA paid internships (two winners)

- The Kurt Thomas Investment Challenge Scholarship (five winners)

The Stock Market Game Program (SMG Program), administered by the Foundation for Investor Education, an affiliate of the Securities Industry Association, has reached nearly nine-million students in grades four through 12 since 1977. Approximately 500,000 participate annually today. Students invest a virtual “$100,000” in securities, learning the importance of saving and investing. Teachers use curriculum materials designed to meet national academic performance standards.

The winners were announced in a beautiful executive Merrill Lynch dining room in downtown Manhattan's financial district.

The kids all got to meet Kurt, shake his hand and get photos. They got a huge kick out of it. And Kurt definitely enjoyed himself. He was clearly quite happy to be there. Kurt obviously cares about Investment Challenge and the kids. It was nice to see.

Thanks to New York Knicks community activities like the Kurt Thomas Investment Challenge, many kids across New York City are brighter students today, and have better potential to shine in the future.