(Albany, NY) – The New York Credit Union Foundation has announced that the 2010-2011 LifeSmarts competition year is now open and live at the program’s online home, www.lifesmarts.org.
LifeSmarts is a fast and fun educational competition that tests middle school and high school students nationwide on real-life consumer issues through online quizzes and live contests about consumer rights, the environment, health and safety, technology and finance.
There are two separate competition levels: the High School Competition (Varsity) and the Middle School Competition (Junior Varsity, grades 6-8). New York’s online competition runs through Feb. 4, 2011. Students and coaches can register online at www.lifesmarts.org to begin taking practice quizzes and downloading resources.
Working with an adult coach, students compete against all other teams from New York. The competition on the varsity level culminates in a live state play-off March 30, 2011, in Schenectady, N.Y. The state winner then goes on to the National Championship, which is being held April 30-May 3, 2011, in Hollywood, Calif. The winner of the Junior Varsity Competition is decided online.
“LifeSmarts really made me think about some of the things I will have to deal with as soon as I graduate and become independent,” said Libby B. in an online survey following her participation in the 2010 competition.
“We’re happy to continue our coordination of LifeSmarts in New York,” said Diane LaVigna-Wixted, executive director of the Foundation. “This comprehensive, life skills program builds well-rounded kids by using their interest in the marketplace to motivate achievement across the board in reading, math, citizenship, leadership, financial literacy, communications, teamwork and workforce readiness. It also provides participating teachers from across the state with consumer curriculum they may not have access to elsewhere.”
LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League. Last year, an estimated 100,000 students and teachers across the country answered more than 3.5 million LifeSmarts questions. The Foundation coordinates the program on a volunteer basis in New York State. For more information, visit www.nycuf.org/financial_education/lifesmarts.php, or call (800) 342-9835, ext. 8186.
