EconoQuest: Empowering Montana’s Youth Through Global Economic Literacy

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The Montana World Affairs Council (the Council) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering global understanding and awareness in Montana’s communities and classrooms. Council programs complement school education programs by providing teachers and students with tools, information resources and direct engagement with diplomats and business and thought leaders. The Council provides free access to economic and career development programs and prioritizes rural and tribal schools, helping educators meet their resource challenges while supporting youth in becoming engaged citizens.

About the Council

The Council was established in 2000 with the purpose of providing Montana residents with greater opportunities for understanding global affairs. Through exposure to global programming and international experts, the goal is that all Montanans will gain greater insight into how the world impacts all people, regardless of location.

EconoQuest Program

In 2024, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation granted $25,000 to the Council to support its efforts to increase access to EconoQuest, an in-person and online economic literacy program that engages rural and tribal high school students in learning about real-world economics and career opportunities. A featured component of the program is the EconoQuest virtual platform, a tool for students to learn basic economic concepts around international trade, pressures and incentives, comparative advantage, opportunity cost and how global issues and events impact Montana’s economy.

The EconoQuest program introduces students to practical economic concepts and shows how global dynamics affect daily life. Students learn about the consequences of economic policies like tariffs, quotas and free trade agreements. EconoQuest culminates with a summit where Montana high school students participate in a career expo featuring local businesses, discussion programs with global and local leaders, and teams competing as entrepreneurs to pitch their Montana-made products on the global market.

Q&A with Nikki Geiszler

Alexis Nwaiwu, communications specialist at the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, conducted a Q&A with Nikki Geiszler, executive director for the Montana World Affairs Council, to learn more about the Council and the EconoQuest program.

Alexis: With the foundation’s focus on Youth Development, we’re really excited for people to learn more about the Council and the great work being done through the EconoQuest program.

Nikki: And we are so grateful for the foundation’s support! EconoQuest launched three years ago in response to teacher feedback. Every year, we host a teacher workshop for renewal credit and ask what they need. Economic education had just become mandatory in Montana, largely falling on social studies teachers, and this year, economics is required for high school graduation.

EconoQuest introduces students to various industries impacted by international trade. They can choose an industry, pick a company or product, or even invent their own, and pitch it on the global market. The focus countries change each year so students can learn about Montana’s international relationships. Think of EconoQuest as a science fair for international trade, with students presenting to local government and business leaders.

Alexis: That seems like a really engaging way for students to learn about the economy. How has EconoQuest grown, and how many students participated this year?

Nikki: Participation has doubled annually, which is very exciting. EconoQuest has two components: the online curriculum and the in-person conference. Around 200 students attended the conference this year, and approximately 750 are in the online program.

Alexis: Does the Council cover the costs for these programs?

Nikki: Yes. All our programming is completely free, including transportation, lodging and meals.

Alexis: How do you approach engaging with tribal communities?

Nikki: We have a statewide teacher advisory board that includes teachers from reservation areas, and we work with the Tribal Economic Development Commission for guidance. But my favorite approach is visiting these communities directly, bringing speakers who inspire and connect with students. Montana’s communities have distinct needs, so we tailor our programming to fit each one. This flexibility lets teachers adapt our programs in ways that work best for their students.

Alexis: How does EconoQuest complement traditional education in Montana schools?

Nikki: EconoQuest is specifically Montana-focused, developed in response to teacher requests to support economic and workforce education. It provides an accessible way for students to explore local industries and career paths in a flexible format that teachers can easily integrate into their classrooms.

Alexis: It sounds like you’re meeting some important workforce development needs in Montana. Have there been any notable success stories?

Nikki: Definitely. While it’s a relatively new program, we’ve seen impactful connections. A great success story involves three girls from a Title I school who studied semiconductors and international trade with India. The Consul General of India was so impressed that he awarded them a two-week trip to India! All three girls plan to pursue engineering.

Alexis: That’s incredible! It must build such confidence in the students.

Nikki: Absolutely. It’s more than knowledge, they’re learning soft skills like researching, presenting and applying economic concepts. And each year, their confidence grows as they interact with influential judges, like government officials and top business leaders.

Alexis: What makes EconoQuest unique in fostering both economic literacy and career exploration?

Nikki: EconoQuest bridges the gap between education and business, directly connecting students with potential future employers while bringing employers face-to-face with hundreds of interested students from across the state. It’s a Montana-created program developed in collaboration with teachers, not business leaders, so it’s tailored to educational needs and remains flexible.

Alexis: Has anything surprised you or stood out from the students’ participation?

Nikki: It’s interesting because we invite consuls general to serve as judges. So, while they’re meeting with Montana students, they also connect with our Department of Commerce and meet with local companies. While we’re educating the youth, we’re also creating opportunities for businesses to grow at the same time.

The winning team from the first year of EconoQuest created their own fishing rod. These students were passionate about fly fishing and saw a gap in the market. They developed a business plan around it, then traded internationally with our focus countries. That year, we had five consuls general from the European Union as judges, so the students were pitching directly to potential buyers.

Alexis: It’s like Shark Tank for students! I can see how exciting and inspiring it would be for them.

Nikki: Exactly! Students have really flourished with this program. We also run an international trade game in EconoQuest where students came together from different schools to represent various countries. It’s a powerful way to connect Montana students from all corners of the state who might never meet otherwise.

Council’s Impact

Over the past two decades, the Council has hosted or co-sponsored hundreds of community and school programs across Montana. A wide range of programs have now grown outward across the state, reaching schools and classrooms in more than 40 counties and on six reservations. The foundation’s Youth Development strategy focuses on grantmaking for organizations like the Council that scale alternative pathways to economic mobility for young people.