Financial literacy education is gaining renewed attention nationwide, and this spring the Zeta Nu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is doing its part to prepare the next generation. The chapter recently concluded its 6th Annual Stock Market Challenge, a month-long initiative designed to give middle and high school students real-world exposure to investing and personal finance.
Held throughout March, the four-week virtual program brought together 96 students from across New Jersey and beyond, each managing a simulated $100,000 investment portfolio while learning the fundamentals of market strategy, financial decision-making, and long-term wealth building.
This year’s program was further strengthened through a partnership with Valley Bank, whose financial experts led sessions on financial literacy, personal branding, and credit and fraud awareness. The sessions provided students with practical tools and insights that extend beyond the classroom and into everyday life.
“This program continues to be a powerful platform for exposing our young people to financial literacy and wealth-building principles at an early age,” said Sherlock Dow, Foundation Chair of the Zeta Nu Lambda Chapter. “We are not just teaching concepts, we are helping to shape financially confident and future-ready leaders.”
Chapter President Derek Vertreese emphasized the broader impact of the initiative, noting that programs like the Stock Market Challenge reflect the fraternity’s mission in action by expanding access to opportunities that can change lives. Director of Educational Activities Al Morris added that the program’s real-time, experiential approach allows students to actively apply what they are learning, helping to build confidence and strengthen decision-making skills.
Parents also saw the value of the program firsthand. One parent, Dr. Melva L. Baker, shared that even listening in from the background provided new insights, while her child came away energized and engaged by the experience.
The 2026 Stock Market Challenge winners included Jordan Brooks (Union School District), Jordan Baker (District 5 – Manhattan, NY), Uwaila Agheyisi (Hillside School District), Elijah Zephyr (Teaneck School District), Jaylen Louis (Plainfield School District), Ash Wedderburn (Wake County Public School System, NC), and Graidelys Jimenez (Plainfield School District). Each winner will receive $100 invested into a custodial brokerage account, giving them an early start on their journey toward financial independence.
Students from a wide range of school districts participated, including Union, Teaneck, Plainfield, Newark, West Orange, and Wake County Public Schools, among others, highlighting the program’s growing reach and impact across multiple communities.
Through initiatives like the Stock Market Challenge, the Zeta Nu Lambda Chapter continues to create meaningful opportunities for young people to build financial knowledge, develop confidence, and prepare for long-term success, while advancing Alpha Phi Alpha’s longstanding commitment to service and community uplift.