Wilbraham & Monson Academy's New Trading Center Classroom Gives Tomorrow's Leaders Hands-On Financial Experience

WILBRAHAM, MA--(Marketwire - June 4, 2009) - Wilbraham & Monson Academy (WMA), a 200-year-old global independent school with students from the U.S. and twenty-two countries, today announced the opening of The Mark R. Shenkman Trading Center -- a high-tech classroom that simulates a stock market trading floor. One of the first trading centers opened at the high school level, students can use state-of-the-art financial markets software to learn to research, analyze, and decipher patterns in the context of a financial trading environment. Class discussions will complement the analysis, focusing on issues such as business ethics, economic development, and the interconnected global financial system.

The trading center is part of WMA's Center for Entrepreneurial & Global Studies (CEGS) program, which focuses on global citizenship, entrepreneurship, and finance. In the CEGS program, students are taught to understand global economic and financial issues, as well as the need for sustainable development and shared global prosperity. Students are also taught to think and act like entrepreneurs, including utilizing opportunity evaluation, critical thinking, and flexibility in all areas of academic life.

In 1985, the trading center's benefactor, Mark R. Shenkman, founded Shenkman Capital Management, Inc., a New York-based investment advisory firm that provides research and management services in high-yield markets and today serves as the firm's President and CEO. "To be successful in today's financial markets, one must understand the tremendous benefits -- and huge threats -- to the global economic system," said Shenkman, a 1961 Monson Academy graduate. "My fascination with the US financial markets began at Monson Academy, where my English teacher encouraged me to write my senior thesis on the New York Stock Exchange rather than Chaucer or Shakespeare. I am honored to help foster an awareness of today's interconnected global economy so that WMA graduates have greater insights into how changes in one country's economy affect the global financial system."

"The entire Wilbraham & Monson community extends its thanks to Mark Shenkman for his generosity and role in bringing this center to life," said Rodney LaBrecque, Head of School for Wilbraham & Monson Academy. "Just as the early exploration of space motivated educators to focus on science and mathematics, the recent global collapse of financial institutions will lead to an increased focus on economic literacy, as today's students need to understand economics and finance in order to be competitive in tomorrow's world and succeed as global leaders."

WMA will hold a dedication ceremony Friday, June 5th at 4:00 p.m. to celebrate Mr. Shenkman and the classroom. Click here to view a video of WMA faculty member Will Kwon leading a class discussion about the process of stock selection or here to download the file.

About Wilbraham & Monson Academy

An independent coeducational secondary school, Wilbraham & Monson Academy attracts talented students from around the country and twenty-two countries. The rigorous academic programs and extracurricular activities at The Global School® give students an exceptional education, including critical thinking and communication skills, in order to develop tomorrow's global leaders. For more information about Wilbraham & Monson Academy, please visit http://www.wmacademy.org.

Contact Information: Media Contacts: Perrin McCormick or Dawn Sullivan Hart-Boillot 781-893-0053 WMA@hartboillot.com