Gaithersburg High School is the only high school in the country to have a NASDAQ trading room.

The NASDAQ room is a classroom located in J207 that contains a ticker board and a plasma screen television. These technological advances update students on the recent rises and falls in the stock market on a twenty minute delay.

Supervised by Business Resource Teacher H. Thomas Hipp, members of the Student Managed Investment Course of the Academy of Finance use this room to thoroughly research stock options and participate in imaginary stock trading while using authentic trading materials. Students are broken into small groups in which they choose and follow a stock, defending their choice along the way.

“[The NASDAQ room] is quickly becoming a center for financial literacy here at GHS and in the community,” says Assistant Principal Laurie Bricker.

GHS received funding for the NASDAQ room through a grant from Montgomery County Public Schools. Because GHS’ Academy of Finance is the largest in the county and well respected, it was established that GHS would be the perfect site for the NASDAQ room.

Because this is such an amazing addition, a press conference was held in the NASDAQ room on November 20, 2006. Those who attended include Montgomery County officials, Gaithersburg city officials, Montgomery County Public School central office personnel including Superintendent Dr. Weast, representatives from NASDAQ, representatives from NASD, Univ. of Southern New Hampshire educators, representatives from the MD Coalition for Financial Literacy, Montgomery College educators, and Gaithersburg High School staff and students.

“I love Gaithersburg,” said Weast, “Gaithersburg is a community on the move.”

Seniors Joel Gardner and Britney Pope gave brief testimonies to the importance and value of their business class. Pope explained to the audience, “I plan to study business in the future and this course gives me the heads up.”

When Weast asked Gardner how he would invest his grandmother’s money, Gardner reflected one of the many important lessons this class has taught him by responding, “I don’t know...There is no such thing as a sure bet.”

The press conference lasted for approximately 45 minutes and was attended by numerous newspapers and television stations. The speakers expressed their gratitude and pride in GHS’ development.

School board Vice President Sharon Cox proclaimed, “Excellence is not accidental. And, sometimes, it is right on the money.”