This year, first place in the middle school division went to Jeremy Aldrich of Thomas Harrison Middle School for “Making a Difference Through Microlending: Real-World Economics Lessons for Foreign Language and Social Studies Classes.” Aldrich’s eighth grade French students learned about the power of entrepreneurship and microlending to improve lives through the project, which was focused on French-speaking African countries.

Second place in the middle school division was won by Paul Yoder of Thomas Harrison Middle School for his “Great Depression Game,” which showed seventh graders the impact of the Great Depression and the New Deal.

All of the local projects went to state competition sponsored by the Virginia Council on Economic Education. Economic education locally is supported by Shenandoah Valley Economic Education Inc., a nonprofit organization that combines business and school contributions to fund the field work of the James Madison University Center for Economic Education.