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NEWARK, N.J. — Essex County College students achieved strong results in the 2025 Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge, with one student team placing fifth in North America and 19th worldwide among more than 2,700 teams from 50 countries.
The Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge is an international academic competition that gives college students hands-on experience making investment decisions using real-time market information. Working in small teams and guided by faculty and industry advisors, students track global news, follow market trends, and adjust their strategies over the course of the five-week challenge.
ECC students participated through the College’s Bloomberg Terminals Lab, which provides access to professional-grade tools used in the finance industry. This year, 16 ECC student teams took part, giving students across the College an opportunity to apply classroom learning in a real-world setting.
One ECC team, ECC WEC Capital, earned a top-five ranking in North America and placed 19th globally based on overall performance during the competition.
The team was led by Captain Yogi Patel, with members Enrique Lopez, Arnaldo Alegre, Maxim Caparkoski, and Michael Montero Mieo, and was advised by Dr. Boqi (Patrick) Wang.
Throughout the challenge, students closely followed global events and market activity, focusing on major industries such as technology, artificial intelligence, financial services, electric vehicles, and healthcare. Teams regularly reviewed news related to markets, politics, and the global economy, using that information to guide their decisions.
ECC students were supported by faculty members and industry professionals who served on the Global Trading Challenge Advisory Board. Their guidance helped students connect academic concepts to real-world scenarios and better understand how global markets respond to current events.
In addition to the top-performing team, all 16 ECC teams completed the challenge, gaining hands-on experience navigating real-world market conditions alongside peers from colleges and universities around the world.
By competing alongside students from institutions such as Columbia University, New York University, Rutgers University, and NJIT, ECC participants gained valuable exposure to the pace and expectations of high-level academic competitions.
Student accomplishments were celebrated during the Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge Presentation, Certificates, and Awards Ceremony, held Wednesday, Dec. 10, in the College’s Fourth Floor Multipurpose Room at the Newark campus. The event featured student presentations, remarks from faculty and advisors, certificate presentations, and opportunities for networking and reflection.
Earlier in December, participating students also took part in a Bloomberg Wall Street field trip, offering additional exposure to professional environments and career pathways within the financial sector.
The Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge reflects Essex County College’s continued commitment to experiential learning and career preparation, giving students practical experience that builds confidence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills applicable across a wide range of careers.
For more information about Essex County College’s Business Division or the Bloomberg Terminals Lab, visit essex.edu/business.
