April 25, 2013 News 3

LAST CHANCE MONTH

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Xavier sweeps top four at JA Titan Challenge

Xavier dominated the Junior Achievement Titan Challenge by claiming the top four spots out of 32 teams in a competition held at the Kirkwood Training and Outreach Center on April 10.

Each team consisted of two seniors enrolled in Xavier’s Economics course. Braxton Hall and James Krouse won the competition and each received $1,500 in scholarship money. Kyle Dlouhy and Abi Kramer were right behind in second place and were both awarded $750 college scholarships. Rounding out the top four were Grant Hunt and Daniel Pape who placed third, and Josh Hewitt and Jordan Ratz in fourth place. Teacher Donna Winter was the moderator for all Xavier teams participating in the challenge.

The JA Titan Challenge is a day-long competition in which students take the role of a CEO in an effort to improve their understanding of the global economy. Using a simulation program called

JA Titan, participants learn the requirements of managing a successful business in a competitive and high-tech marketplace. Students are in complete control of their own virtual business and are in charge of making decisions to benefit their company. Each team makes choices regarding price, production, marketing, capital investment, and research and development for its business in order to succeed in the marketplace.

Krouse was excited to learn a lot from the competition. “The JA Titan Challenge was a wonderful opportunity to apply the concepts that we learned in Economics to real world situations. I am very proud of the accomplishments of Xavier teams and the efforts of everyone involved,” Krouse said.

Xavier hopes to continue its success in the 2014 competition.

Maria EftingNews Writer

Hall continues servingEl Salvador and Haiti

Junior Achievement Titan Challenge winners Braxton Hall and James Krouse pose with runner-ups Abi Kramer and Kyle Dlouhy along with their business mentors on April 10. Submitted Photo.

Go Saints!

Q: How many service trips have you been on? A: I have been on five mission trips, two to Haiti and three to El Salvador. My favorite thing from each trip is building relationships with my translators and members of the communities. Following my trips, I keep in contact with them via Facebook.

Q: What are some memories from your trips?

A: One of my new favorite memories is when my translator Gaspard in Haiti named his son after me! I was so honored and I get to go see him this summer! My favorite thing is seeing how grateful the people are. They never complain and thank us endlessly. The supplies and medical equipment we bring down actually make a major impact on their lives.

Q: Why did you choose to go on mission trips?

A: Helping the poor changed my perspective about everything. The work we do is the most rewarding thing in the world. I will continue making these trips because of the work my group and I do, the amazing things we learn, and the life-changing relationships we build.

Quinlan Moran Assistant News Editor

Baby Braxton, the son of Braxton Hall’s translator Gaspard in Haiti, was named after Hall. Hall will visit him this summer. Submitted Photo.