The Stock Market Game is in full swing for a small group of eighth graders at Thomas County Middle School. Club participants are given $100,000 of virtual cash and are then given 10 weeks to buy and sell stocks to try and increase their portfolio holdings.  Students not only get experience making trades on the stock exchange, but are given instruction on the basic principles of investing and the stock market. The 10-week session ends November 30. The team with the largest increase in portfolio value will be the region winner since Thomas County Middle School is the only school that competes in the region. Pictured are Owen May and Trip Taylor discussing their portfolio and stock purchasing decisions. The two students are currently in the lead with a portfolio value $102,718.