Steven Rosso, a junior in St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, was named the New Jersey first place winner and the eighth place national winner of The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Foundation’s InvestWrite student essay competition.

The InvestWrite student essay competition is a competition ranging from grades four to 12. The students were asked to analyze an investment scenario, think critically and write a long-term financial plan. Students addressed real-world economic factors and trends. For the essay they were asked to discuss the five most important items to research before purchasing a stock, bond, or mutual fund.

The school’s marketing teacher, Veronica Sullivan, posed the question to her students as a writing assignment for her class. She chose the top five essays and submitted them to SIFMA. Out of those five, Rosso’s was chosen. Each year more than 20,000 essays are submitted to the InvestWrite competition. All the essays submitted are reviewed and judged by a panel of teachers and industry professionals.

Rosso was awarded a certificate from SIFMA, a trophy and two gift cards.

Rosso is an exceptional student and is looking into apply to Penn State and Columbia universities. Last week he was also awarded a $1,500 scholarship from the Kathy Ward Scholarship Foundation for his academic and athletic skills. The Kathy Ward Memorial Scholarship was established in 2000 in memory of a Freehold resident and former school parent who was involved with the sports programs in St. John Vianney.  The scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates qualities of leadership, excels at academics and is involved in the community.