[Jimbo]

If the contest begins tomorrow I suggest she buy some of the least volatile stable stocks stocks available, one cheap stock with a lot of upside potential and 1 gold stock. This should keep her account about break even while all the other contestants will most likely lose money. I will offer her three picks, one which will provide little to no gains and one that might skyrocket if the merger occurs and a gold stock.

MSFT and SIRI, for the gold stock I like either ABX or AUY.

Good luck to her,

Jimbo