Melrose Students Get it Done at Showdown!

Two teams of Melrose High students competed in the ECON Showdown in April, tackling a number of educational challenges while representing their school and city.

"The ECON showdown was a fun way for students to put what they’ve learned in the classroom to use in this competitive event," Principal Jason Merrill said. "This event was a great way for students to showcase their knowledge on economics topics."

The ECON Showdown is a Learning Economics and Finance Network (LEAF) student competition for all Massachusetts economics students. This year's showdown took place April 11 at Wachusett Regional High School.

Students were broken into teams and judged by educational and business professors as they addressed solutions to real-word international and macroeconomic situations.

One Melrose team won first in the AP division for having presented the best overall solution, while the other team earned the highest combined multiple choice score.

Julia McLaughlin, Michaela Fanikos, Ryan Bradford, and Tara O’Shea also represented Melrose at the prestigious Harvard Pre Collegiate Economics Competition (HPEC) on April 1.

“MHS was one of only a handful of public schools to advance to the playoff round at HPEC and their performance marks the best result Melrose has ever achieved at the event,” said MHS Social Studies Teacher Michael Noone, who served as a coach for the two events.

Left to right: Luc Carbonneau, Katie Meade, Holly Bourque, Coach and Social Studies Teacher Michael Noone, Emma Winey, Ryan Bradford, Michaela Fanikos, Julia McLaughlin, Tara O’Shea, Coach and Assistant Principal Bryan Corrigan. (Courtesy Photo Melrose Public Schools)