Johan Zacharia, a fifth grader at Arnold Elementary School, won a national essay competition by outlining how he would use an online investment simulator to buy stock in companies that don’t use fossil fuels.

“I learned a lot and hope to use what I learned in the future,” Zacharia said in an Aug. 28 news release.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools offers The Stock Market Game in partnership with the Maryland Council on Economic Education, a Towson University-based nonprofit focused on teaching personal finance and economics. The game is an online simulation of the global capital markets designed for students from kindergarten to high school.

“Teaching students about financial literacy and encouraging them to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios helps prepare students to make informed decisions and build a foundation for future success,” said Shauna Coffman, principal of Arnold Elementary School, in the release.

Zacharia beat 959 other elementary school students from across the county.

“It’s exciting to have someone so young win an award for such a complicated subject,” said Coffman. “I feel that his essay really highlights the value of empowering our students with learning opportunities in all areas.”

For winning the competition, Zacharia will receive a new laptop, a camera and a $50 cash prize. Amy Phillips, who brought the Stock Market Game club to Arnold Elementary School, received a $750 award. The school gets a trophy to display and funds for a student celebration during the school year.

“[Phillips] is the one who really recognized the importance of teaching students financial literacy, so she helped guide them in their financial decisions during the club, and she provided them with a structured yet risk-free environment to put their learning into action,” said Coffman.

In his essay, Zacharia described which investments performed the best, and provided recommendations for hypothetical future investments. Zacharia said he only invested in companies that don’t use fossil fuels because, as part of the game, he and his classmates identified a goal of preventing pollution.

“I enjoyed learning about the economy and seeing how I can make money and help the environment too,” Zacharia wrote in his essay. “I am one step closer to lessening climate change by investing in the environment.”