SAN ANTONIO -- – A Saint Mary’s Hall student is heading to the bank after winning the annual Jefferson Bank Investor Challenge, which gives area high school juniors and seniors a chance to learn financial strategies while competing for a cash prize.

On Friday, Thomas Garrett was awarded $500 and a plaque with his name engraved on it.

“It was a really good learning experience. I recommend it,” said Thomas Garrett, a senior.

Garrett, along with other high school students, had to take a week-long summer class at the University of the Incarnate Word. While there, students learned about financial literacy and the stock market. After completing the course they began a six-month simulated online investment competition. Students were tasked with researching companies and buying and selling stocks in a competition to see who could increase their starting portfolio the most.

“[The hardest part] was the emotional side because when I was down 30 percent it was very frustrating because I thought I could be winning this and so I took initiative to do my best and just work my way through it,” Garrett said.

More than 40 students competed in this year’s challenge.