[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 94 (Friday, June 9, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S8122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       CONGRATULATING NATHAN BERISH, JEFF KENDA, AND MIKE HUBERTY
 Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to commend the success 
of three students from Mukwonago, WI, who recently won the national 
stock market game. The success of Nathan Berish, Jeff Kenda, and Mike 
Huberty, is impressive not only because they did better than almost 
700,000 other student contestants, but because they set an all new 
record for the 19-year-old game.
  For 10 weeks during the spring semester, teams from across the 
country participated in a mock stock-exchange project, each given a 
hypothetical $100,000 to invest as they chose. This winning team 
managed to turn that $100,000 into $1.5 million. An accomplishment 
about which most professional stockbrokers only dream. The previous 
record for the game was $920,000.
  While we so often focus on the shortcomings of our schools, these 
students are a reminder of the quality of our Nation's young people and 
the positive potential of our school system. Anyone who worries that 
students are not being taught about the real world of work should take 
heart from the success of these young men who proved their adeptness in 
one of our most competitive industries.
  Unfortunately, the Securities Industry Association [SIA] which 
administers the contest has turned its back on the students who should 
be its pride and joy. Worried about negative publicity pointing out 
imperfections in the game it designed, the SIA has tried to minimize 
the attention that the winners receive. This attitude is insulting. 
There is no evidence to suggest that these students did not play the 
game in exactly the same manner as the other contestants--they just 
made better investments.
  I am extremely proud of these students. I do not want SIA's 
inconsiderate treatment to overshadow their accomplishment. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in congratulating these outstanding 
students.


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