2006-7 LifeSmarts Season Begins in Oklahoma

Volume 37

Number 3

Fall 2006

2006-7 LifeSmarts Season Begins in Oklahoma

By Ann Houston
Oklahoma Department of CareerTech

Oklahoma CareerTech’s Family, Careers and Community Leaders of America announced the launch of the second season of the LifeSmarts program in Oklahoma.

LifeSmarts is an educational program for high school students that tests contestants’ knowledge of consumer issues including personal finance, technology, the environment, consumer rights and responsibilities, and health and safety.

FCCLA is the Oklahoma CareerTech student organization supporting Family and Consumer Sciences Education.

The “season” kicks off nationally via live Internet competition. Local FCCLA chapter teams compete for top scores online and work to make it to the state competition hosted at the Oklahoma Department of CareerTech in Stillwater on Feb. 6, according to Denise Morris, the Oklahoma FCCLA state advisor and LifeSmarts coordinator.

In April Oklahoma’s champion team will compete with teams from across the country at the National LifeSmarts Competition in Orlando, FL. Last year, the team from Cushing High School traveled to Philadelphia to compete.

Six teams from five schools competed in the first state competition. The winning team did not lose a match during the state competition.

Dennise Morris

Denise Morris, State FCCLA Adviser

“Oklahoma FCCLA is pleased to be a part of this exciting program,” said Denise Morris, State FCCLA Adviser. “The LifeSmarts program is a great way for students to learn about important real-world issues. In fact, we wish all adults had the knowledge these students gain when they participate in LifeSmarts.”

The LifeSmarts program continues to grow, with 17,600 teen participants, 850 adult coaches, 42 states, and 2.2 million questions answered online last competition year. The program is coordinated at the national level by the National Consumers League, the nation’s oldest consumer advocate. In Oklahoma, there were 10 coaches with 17 teams and approximately 100 participants last year.

“This year promises to be our best ever,” said Lisa Hertzberg, who directs the program for the National Consumers League. “We expect even more students to log on, take a practice quiz, and join in the fun.”

FCCLA is one of seven Oklahoma CTSOs supporting CareerTech high school and adult programs located in high schools and technology centers. The others include: FFA and Agricultural Education, Business Professionals of America and Business and Information Technology Education, DECA and Marketing Education, Health Occupations Student of America and Health Careers, SkillsUSA and Trade and Industry Education, Technology Student Association and Technology Education.

For more information about LifeSmarts and FCCLA contact Denise Morris: 405-743-5467 or dmorr@okcareertech.org.