The Stavros Center hosted the top five teams of fourth-grade students from Hillsborough County Public Schools to compete in the in-person finals of the E-Team (Economic Team) competition on Tuesday, May 20.
After advancing through preliminary rounds virtually this April, 30 young finalists from five elementary schools gathered at the Gus A. Stavros Center for Free Enterprise and Economic Education to showcase their knowledge of economic principles in a friendly competition. Each school was represented by a team of six students.
The E-Team program aims to introduce elementary students to foundational economic concepts while encouraging teamwork and real-world problem-solving.
The Boyette Springs team celebrating after an exciting tiebreaker win.
"We are thrilled to be back at the Stavros Center once again for our 19th E-Team competition," said Marie Rogers, K-6 social studies supervisor for Hillsborough County Public Schools. "This event is important because all our students need to grow up to be financially savvy, especially nowadays when they don't often see physical money."
During the event, the students went on a tour of the University of South Florida campus before returning for a heartwarming awards presentation. This year, the winner was crowned in a thrilling tiebreaker.
"The E-Team competition is more than just a contest; it is a great educational tool that prepares students for a better understanding of economics and financial literacy," said Pete Trakas, director of the Stavros Center. "We are delighted to be able to host this event with Hillsborough County Public Schools, and can't wait to do it again soon."
Located in the University of South Florida College of Education, the Stavros Center has long been a hub for innovative economic education, and the E-Team finals highlight the center's ongoing commitment to fostering financial literacy from an early age.
The Gus A. Stavros Center for Free Enterprise and Economic Education works to advance the effective teaching and integration of free enterprise, financial literacy and economic education into the K-20 curricula. Providing resources in support of educators from across the Tampa Bay area, the Center provides teacher training programs, curricula development efforts and other strategies to ensure that free enterprise and consumer economics concepts reach students in today’s classrooms.