Weeks of buzzer-beaters, bracket-busters, and educator enthusiasm led to this moment. The NGPF Bracket Madness Champion has been crowned and the results are in.

[SportsCenter theme plays]

BUCK WEALTHMAN: And that’s a wrap on the 2025 NGPF Bracket Madness Tournament! After an unforgettable run, INTERACTIVE: Invest with STAX! has claimed the crown in a decisive championship win over INTERACTIVE: Online Bank Simulator.

PENNY STOCKTON: Buck, STAX was unstoppable from the jump. This 12-seed powered through every round, knocking out big names left and right, and capped it all off with a blowout win in the finals. What a ride!

BUCK: It’s been a tournament full of surprises, passionate voting, and some truly outstanding financial education content on display.

PENNY: Whether you were cheering on your favorites or discovering new activities for the first time, this year’s bracket delivered on every level.

[Theme music fades]

Thank You!

This year’s Bracket Madness wouldn’t have been possible without you! Whether you voted once or in every round, you helped shine a spotlight on what makes personal finance education so engaging and impactful. Even if your pick didn’t win it all, every single activity in this tournament earned its place through popularity and impact. Be sure to explore all of the featured activites. They're some of the most loved and most used in classrooms nationwide.

Congratulations to our raffle winners:

• $20 Gift Cards – Awarded to five randomly selected participants who voted in all rounds of the tournament

  • Andreana Hoth-Waller
  • Augustine Wasinski
  • Haley Claxton
  • Lisa George
  • Lauren Feld

• $50 Gift Card – Awarded to one randomly selected participant who voted for STAX in the final round

  • Dhanya Dheeraj

If your name is listed, we’ll be in touch soon to deliver your prize.

Looking Ahead: April is Financial Literacy Month

As we wrap up the madness of March, don’t miss what’s ahead. April is Financial Literacy Month, and we’re kicking things off with our free Virtual Conference on April 5th.

Join us for a full day of professional development, fresh ideas, and energizing conversations to carry you through the rest of the school year.

Thank you again for being part of the NGPF community—and for making this year’s Bracket Madness one to remember.

About the Author

Dave Martin

Dave joins NGPF with 15 years of teaching experience in math and computer science. After joining the New York City Teaching Fellows program and earning a Master's degree in Education from Pace University, his teaching career has taken him to New York, New Jersey and a summer in the north of Ghana. Dave firmly believes that financial literacy is vital to creating well-rounded students that are prepared for a complex and highly competitive world. During what free time two young daughters will allow, Dave enjoys video games, Dungeons & Dragons, cooking, gardening, and taking naps.

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