For the past nine years, the Kentucky Office of Financial Institutions has co-sponsored and participated in the LifeSmarts competition with teens competing from all across the state. Kentucky has placed as high as second nationally and placed in the top 10 most of the 10 years of the program.
The LifeSmarts program is designed to complement school curriculums and help develop consumer life skills for teens. The program focuses on consumer rights and responsibilities, personal finance, health and safety, technology and the environment. Qualifying teams compete in a game show format. Each state's winner represents his or her state at the national competition.
The National Consumers League acquired the National Coalition for Consumer Education, which formerly sponsored LifeSmarts. The National Consumers League is a nonprofit organization that identifies, protects, represents and advances the economic and social interests of consumers and workers through education and advocacy. To learn more about LifeSmarts, visit http://www.lifesmarts.org/
or e-mail lifesmarts@nclnet.org.
If you have questions regarding OFI's participation in LifeSmarts, contact Kelly May, public information officer, 800-223-2579, ext. 252, or Andrea “Andie” Cubert, Division of Financial Institutions consumer complaint investigator, 800-223-2579, ext. 226.
Coach Robin Cash, far left, poses with students on the Jefferson County Manual High Life Skills 1 team (left to right) Katie Barrette, Emma Cohn, Sarah Bennett and Evan Coleman after they won the 2008 Kentucky LifeSmarts competition.
Photo by: Maeghan Disponett, KHEAA/The Student Loan People
The Bracken County Polar Bears team was the runner up in the 2008 Kentucky LifeSmarts Challenge. The team is made up of (left to right) Sara Jewell, Justin Ramsey, Chris Brothers, J.T. Hendricks and Becky Jewell, and the coach is Clay King.
Photo by: Wes Sirles, Kentucky Office of Insurance
DuPont Manual High Wins Kentucky LifeSmarts
Runner-up Bracken County will represent state at national Consumer Quiz Competition
Frankfort, Ky. (March 11, 2008) – Louisville’s DuPont Manual High School edged out five-time state champion Bracken County High School to claim the state LifeSmarts championship title in Frankfort on March 6. However, due to prior commitments involving the Manual team, Bracken County will represent Kentucky at the national LifeSmarts competition.
“The level of competition at this year’s event was truly outstanding,” said Attorney General Jack Conway, who sponsored the competition. “It’s always rewarding to see teenagers learning about financial-education and consumer-protection issues. These lessons will serve them well as they prepare for life after high school.”
The LifeSmarts competition is a game-show style quiz competition for high school students. Students test their knowledge and skills by answering questions in the areas of health and safety, personal finance, environment and technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities. Teams qualified online for the chance to meet face to face in Frankfort.
Teacher Robin Cash coached DuPont Manual High School’s winning team. Team members include: Evan Coleman, Katie Barrette, Emma Cohn and Sarah Bennett.
Jefferson County Manual High Life Skills 1 teammates Katie Barrette, Sarah Bennett, team captain Evan Coleman and Emma Cohn celebrate their victory in the Kentucky LifeSmarts 2008 tournament.
Photo by: Kelly May, Office of Financial Institutions
Bracken County High’s team is coached by Clay King, and team members include: Justin Ramsey, Chris Brothers, J.T. Hendricks, Becky Jewell and Sara Jewell.
This is the sixth time during the past 10 years that Bracken County will serve as Kentucky’s representative for the national LifeSmarts competition. Bracken County claimed the first-runner-up position at the national competition in San Francisco three years ago. This year, the national competition will be held in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 12-15.
The Bracken County Polar Bears team discusses an answer during regular team play at the state LifeSmarts competition. Left to right are: J.T. Hendricks, Chris Brothers, Justin Ramsey and Sara Jewell.
Photo by: Maeghan Disponett, KHEAA/The Student Loan People
LifeSmarts is sponsored by the National Consumers League and is coordinated in Kentucky by the Attorney General’s Office in partnership with the Office of Financial Institutions, the Office of Insurance, the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (4-H and Youth Development Programs) and the Better Business Bureau. High schools interested in learning more about LifeSmarts for the 2009 program may visit http://www.lifesmarts.org/ or contact the Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection at 888-432-9257.
Office of Financial Institutions
1025 Capital Center Drive
Suite 200
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-573-3390
Toll free: 800-223-2579
Fax: 502-573-0086
E-mail: kfi@ky.gov