Varsity LifeSmarts (Grades 9-12)
Champs to travel to Philadelphia to compete in national event
Teens from Ruskin High Take Missouri State Varsity LifeSmarts Title
A team from Ruskin High School in Kansas City, MO., beat out 14 teams and captured the 2012 state LifeSmarts varsity championship by successfully fielding questions about real-life marketplace issues in Jefferson City on February 15.
LifeSmarts, a consumer education competition that challenges teens in grades 9-12 about personal finance, health and safety, the environment, technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities, is a program of the National Consumers League. In Missouri, Merilee Thoenen, supervisor in the Family Consumer Sciences and Human Services section of the Missouri Department of Education is the state LifeSmarts coordinator. The financial sponsor is American Century Investments Foundation of Kansas City. The Missouri Association of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) coordinates the program.
Teens from across the state first competed online for a chance to go to the in-person state finals held February 15 in Jefferson City. State champions from Ruskin High School qualified for the national LifeSmarts competition to be held in Philadelphia, PA, April 20-24.
“LifeSmarts participants in Missouri have gained many of the consumer ‘smarts’ they’ll need to make it in the real world,” said Thoenen. “We’re proud to have Ruskin High School represent us at the 2012 National LifeSmarts Championship in Philadelphia.”
Other teams participating in the state finals included second place Seneca High School, third place Keytesville High School, Frederick Douglass High School in Columbia, Linn High School, Blair Oaks High School, Walnut Grove High School, Nevada High School, Northwestern High School, Southern High School, Stover High School, Benton High School in St. Joseph, Lutie High School, Valley Park High School, and Fort Zumwalt South High School in St. Peters.
“LifeSmarts participants win by learning to avoid common consumer pitfalls, navigate the government, and understand credit card jargon before they have to sign on the dotted line,” said Sally Greenberg, executive director of the National Consumers League.
LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League. State coordinators implement the program locally. For more information, visit www.lifesmarts.org, email lifesmarts@nclnet.org, or call the National Consumers League’s communications department at 202-835-3323.
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. NCL’s mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information about NCL, visit www.nclnet.org or email media@nclnet.org.
Helpful Links
Student Competition Site: http://start.lifesmarts.org
Coach’s Corner: http://start.lifesmarts.org/coaches