Jamaica College is celebrating its seventh consecutive year topping the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) virtual high school stock market game.

The team, coached by Oliver Irons and comprised of Justin Phinn, Jocade Hudson, Kyle Brown, Dhruv Belani, Kevin Hall, Dominick Salmon, Jordan McPherson and Jahdiel Barrett, also took home first to seventh and twelfth place in the individual standings.

Starting with a virtual fund of J$800,000.00 in December 2024, the Jamaica College team traded and invested its way to a stock portfolio value of J$4,532,391.41 by the end of the game in April 2025. Wolmer’s Boys was second with J$2,535,783.66

In the teacher’s game, business teacher Oliver Irons placed first for the seventh consecutive year in a row with fellow teacher Jehu Graham placing second.

The trophy for this year’s event was presented to team coach Oliver Irons and captain Justin Phinn by JSE managing director Dr Marlene Street Forrest, who congratulated the team on its success and stressed the importance of financial literacy in today’s world.

Lance Hylton, chairman at the Old Hope Road-based institution, principal Wayne Robinson and old boy BOJ Governor Richard Byles were on hand to witness the occasion and support the team.

Byles expressed his delight at the team’s accomplishment and noted that it was a byproduct of JC’s thrust to ensure that the boys are well-rounded and ready to conquer the challenges and opportunities of the fast-paced digital and financial world.

The achievements are consistent with JC’s ongoing improvement in academic results and in reaching the Schools Challenge Quiz finals for the first time in 38 years.

The JSE’s Stock Market Game for High Schools is aimed at secondary-level students in fourth to sixth forms and is designed to strengthen critical-thinking skills, financial literacy, and build confidence and self-esteem.

Most importantly, the stock market game instils an understanding of the need to save and invest at an
early age and ensure that when students leave high school, they have the basic knowledge of how and when to buy and sell stock.

Jamaica College made its first appearance in the competition during the 2016-2017 season, but didn’t place in the final standings. After a one-year hiatus, Jamaica College returned during the 2018-2019 season where it won the game and topped first to fourth. Since then, several students who have gone through this virtual game have gone on to begin investing on their own with Daniel White, a two-time first-place finisher, winning the JSE’s Public and Young Investor game.

Under the stewardship of Oliver Irons, Jamaica College will be seeking to expand the interest of young men in financial literacy and putting their best foot forward in the ever-changing world.