Profit Bulls celebrate victory in KPMG challenge

The Profit Bulls from Bermuda Institute charged ahead to take first place in this year’s contest.

The annual competition sees teams from schools across the island invest a virtual $50,000 in the stock market over six months.

Whoever makes the most cash wins $10,000.

The Profit Bulls increased their portfolio by an impressive 43.5 per cent to $69,426.

They will use their prize money to set up five scholarships for BI students from financially-challenged backgrounds.

Their “awesome” achievement was praised by KPMG Bermuda partner Craig Bridgewater.

He added: “They worked hard and prevailed.”

The team consisted of Jamae Smith, Shennen Rollins and Aquil Clarke.

Praying

They invested in gold, oil, retail, finance and mining, with companies Hecla Mining Co., MetLife Inc. and American Safety Insurance Holdings performing particularly well.

Their teacher Tanya Dickinson said last night: "We’ve been praying for first place and finally won. We’re very pleased."

Ms Smith said: "It’s really exciting to win and it’s nice to know the money is going to a good cause. This is what we hoped for and we got it."

Team member Ms Rollins added: “I feel like we really accomplished something.”

In second place, winning $6,000, were the Gekko Brokers from Mount Saint Agnes Academy with a portfolio of $68,204.

Best friends Ryan Sousa and Thomas Mahoney — the smallest team in the contest — picked shares in various industries but concentrated on oil, technology, health and insurance.

Mr Sousa said: “We thought we were coming third but there was a surprise upstroke in the last month.” Taking the third place prize of $4,000 was Young Money from Warwick Academy, at $67,657.

Congratulating all the winners at the prize-giving last night, Mr Bridgewater said the contest was “very, very tight” in its final stages and called every participant a “winner”.

He added: “The suspense was very high.

“Everybody has actually learned something from this process and has taken something away.

“It was a hard-fought competition with all teams putting in an excellent effort across the board.”

Congratulating all the students at the prize-giving at the Bermuda Society of Arts yesterday was Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith.

She said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be here this evening — after following your ups and downs in the Bermuda Sun — to join with all present to celebrate your achievements.

Exciting

“I wish the talk show regulars were here to witness the young people in our community who are involved in positive activities.

“So many young people are doing tremendous and exciting things and today’s gathering is yet another example of this.

“You undertook an ambitious project and should feel justly proud of your achievements tonight.”