After a six-year absence, Lowell High School made a commendable return to the Massachusetts School Bank Association competition in 2025, winning third place out of 20 participating schools.
Five students from Jill Taylor’s Business Explorations course — Somaly Soun, Narlim Ven, Thyda Pov Tang, Kallie Bui, and Jennifer Marques, along with Liz Chhoeum from Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union — represented the school at the event, which was held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. The team presented an innovative virtual reality experience designed to educate young students on financial literacy skills.
Targeted toward students aged 13 to 18, the VR simulation allows users to engage in realistic banking scenarios, such as writing checks and opening bank accounts. Not only will this make the process of learning about personal finance informative and educational, but it’s also engaging and enjoyable.
During the preliminary round of the competition, each team was allotted 10 minutes to set up, deliver their presentation, and respond to three questions from a panel of judges. Based on their performance, select teams advanced to the second round, where they were evaluated by an expanded panel of six judges. Lowell High School was among the distinguished schools to advance.
“Speaking from my own experience competing in the city of Boston at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, I would gladly do it again if given the opportunity,” said Somaly Soun. “The adrenaline rush when awaiting the results was unforgettable. It was truly an enjoyable and rewarding experience.”
Lowell High School is proud of its students’ performance and looks forward to continued participation in future Massachusetts School Bank Association competitions.