(Albany, NY) - A team of consumer-savvy students from Irondequoit High School in Rochester, N.Y., captured the 2010 New York State LifeSmarts title after defeating 54 other teams in the online competition.
Coordinated in New York State by the New York Credit Union Foundation (NYCUF), LifeSmarts... the Ultimate Consumer Challenge is a financial education competition for students in grades 9-12 from any school, group or organization in the state. Participating students complete multiple online quizzes, tackling questions on real-life marketplace issues like personal finance, health and safety, the environment, technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities.
This year's competition ran from September 2009 - February 2010 and the Irondequoit team earned the highest scores.
The Irondequoit team consisted of Connor Enright, Samantha Jebbett, Alicia Kolaki, Daniel Lenzi and Muhammad Zahid, and were coached by Louis DeCesare and LaVon Bucciarelli. The group will travel to Miami Beach, Fla., April 24-27 to vie for the National LifeSmarts Competition title.
Finishing in second place, only two-tenths of a point behind Irondequoit, was the team from Saranac Lake High School. The top twelve rankings were as follows:
1. Irondequoit High School, Rochester
2. Saranac Lake High School, Saranac Lake
3. Pittsford Mendon High School, Pittsford
4. Starpoint High School, Lockport
5. Brentwood High School, Brentwood
6. Hamburg High School, Hamburg
7. Pembroke High School, Corfu
8. Cairo-Durham High School, Cairo
9. Smithtown High School West, Smithtown
10. Smithtown High School East, Smithtown
11. Watervliet High School, Watervliet
12. Canandaigua Academy, Canandaigua
The New York Credit Union Foundation serves credit unions, schools and community organizations that help improve the financial literacy and independence of New Yorkers and promote the credit union difference. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.nycuf.org.
Foundation Board Member & CEO of The Summit FCU Michael Vadala (left) presents the winning Irondequoit team with a $500 check to cover any extra expenses the team incurs while they vie for the National LifeSmarts title in Fla. (l-r). Muhammad Zahid, Samantha Jebbett, Daniel Lenzi, Connor Enright, Alicia Kolacki, and team coach, Louis DiCesare.
