For a few hours on Wednesday, the Capitol Visitors Center looked more like the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, as students and lawmakers gathered to honor the winners of the 11^th annual Stock Market Game Capitol Hill Challenge.

Hosted by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) and the group’s foundation component, the ceremony celebrated middle and high school students who came out on top in a 14-week competition organized by congressional district and state.

{mosads}Student teams were given $100,000 in hypothetical SIFMA money and had the help of 100 percent of Congress in competing for the highest return rates.

“Accounting can be common sense … that’s what these kids need to know,” Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (R-Mich.) told The Hill.

Students from Lynn English High School, represented by Rep. John Tierney (D-Mass.), said they enjoyed “the tension” of the competition and “looking at the stocks and how they kept moving and going up.”

South Central Middle School’s team, represented by Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), also said they enjoyed advancing through the rankings but said their favorite part was, “coming to Washington and meeting the senator.”