UpDown.com Announces Winners of Its Popular Student Investing Contest

Contest Attracts More than 6,000 Students

BOSTON, MA, September 25, 2008 – UpDown.com, the leading social platform for virtual investing, today announced the winners of its popular student stock market challenge. The top three winning students have been awarded with prizes totaling $3,500. The contest attracted more than 6,000 students from more than 1,000 colleges and universities across the United States.

The top three prizes went to the following students:  

• YowcephH - $2,000
• Noliaboy2 - $1,000
• Ofekutd - $500

First-place winner YowcephH – aka Yowceph Haddad, a senior finance major at Notre Dame University -managed his portfolio to a 216.67 percent return, beating the second place finisher by more than 80 percent.

“I joined UpDown at the start of the spring semester upon the recommendation of a friend,” said Yowceph Haddad. “In addition to the earnings potential that the contests and membership provide, the site provides a free, challenging and informative online community to practice investing and learn from both my peers and professionals from all around the country.”

Students who participated in the contest were evaluated based on the relative returns of their $1 million virtual portfolios, which were compared against the performance of the S&P 500 from the student’s date of entry into the contest.

Students who participated in the stock market contest were evaluated based on the relative returns of their $1 million virtual portfolios, which were compared against the performance of the S&P 500 from the student’s date of entry into the contest.

"Today, more than ever, it is extremely important for students to understand financial markets,” said Michael Reich, CEO and co-founder of UpDown.com. “Our student contest offers them a great way to learn about the market with no risk while demonstrating their investing talent to recruiters and potential employers.”

UpDown.com is the only free investment platform that allows members to earn money with zero risk of financial loss. The stock market game lets members learn the ins and outs of Wall Street by giving members $1,000,000 in virtual money to invest. UpDown.com provides a platform for investors to improve their skills through collaboration, competition and aggregated wisdom – including stock tips from other members.

For more information, visit http://www.updown.com.