
Magnetar Academy Holds an Educational Trading Event for 400 Students
Event Details
The Magnetar Youth Investment Academy hosts a financial literacy program for high school students around the Chicagoland area. This program culminates in a one-day event called The Magnetar Academy Team Challenge, where they host a mock trading floor for 400 students at Soldier Field. There, students take the floor as stock traders and analysts to predict, strategize and make investment decisions in real time. At the end of the day, the teams with the best-performing portfolios win grants for their schools.
In addition to the computer stations for the student teams, the event required a full audio visual production to accommodate the guest speakers (this year included Rhymefest), video recording, and large projection screens. In previous years, Magnetar Academy worked with several different vendors for the computers and AV portions of the event. In 2017, Meeting Tomorrow provided all the audio visual and technology equipment and onsite support.
BY THE
NUMBERS
Students Educated
400
Computer Pods Set Up
53
iPads & Monitors Deployed
159
MT Solution
Meeting Tomorrow provided full AV production and technology services for the 2017 event, including all computer rentals, iPads, projectors, screens and HD video recording. This resulted in a smoother event process using a single provider rather than multiple vendors. A key component of the overall success was testing all equipment in advance, bringing spare computers and iPads, and sending on-site representatives from MT for the event. In addition, MT coordinated setup with 22 technicians and ran thousands of feet of cabling under secure runners to power the computer pods.
Audio Visual Components:
- 12k lumens projectors and screens
- Pipe and drape
- Sound systems and lighting
- Lighting
- HD video recording
- onsite technicians
Onsite Support:
- (159) iPads
- (159) computer monitors
- (53) premium desktop PCs
- mirrored computer image across all stations
The computer pods, banners, and projection screens at the event.


Hear from a few of our team members who worked on this event:
“I’m proud to work with a company that provides support to our local communities and that teaches kids about financial literacy. It’s something I wish I could have been a part of in high school.”
“My favorite part was watching the students work together with their teams onsite. During the event, 5 minutes of trading equated to one week in real time, and when that timer struck zero, you knew right away who profited and who suffered a loss. The victors went NUTS! Literally jumping out of their seats and screaming at the top of their lungs.”