Heritage High School held a dynamic student economic summit last week in connection with the San Francisco Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank. Students from five senior economics classes met in the gymnasium to barter and trade, acting as economic advisors from 39 nations.

The program required students to study the economics, health systems, strengths and weaknesses of their country, and determine how to raise the standard of living based on real-world factors.

Economic and health statistics such as imports, exports, per capita income, infant mortality rates and life expectancy rates were charted to help students determine needs and seek viable partnerships at the summit. Alliances were encouraged to avoid tariffs on imports and exports.

Students created the national flag, brought cultural artifacts, and provided indigenous food samples. Representatives, adorned in cultural attire, met to arrange trading agreements toward the goal of improving their country's standard of living.

Heritage economics teacher Michelle Lynch was instrumental in planning the program and the day's events, and announced that she was "very happy with how the summit went, and we are all really pleased. It was exciting to see the students step up and participate as enthusiastically as they did."

— Contributed by Sarah Singrin