LifeSmarts Quiz Hits Oklahoma

By Erin Portman
Oklahoma Department of CareerTech

In this day of rampant fraud, spotting a scam is becoming more difficult.  One of Oklahoma’s seven CareerTech student organizations aims to tackle this growing problem, and others, that plague everyday life.

Family Career and Community Leaders of America is sponsoring the state’s first LifeSmarts program.  FCCLA is the student organization affiliated with Family and Consumer Sciences Education program.

LifeSmarts is an online quiz contest where teams of students compete to answer questions about personal finance, health and safety, environment, technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities, according to Denise Morris, state FCCLA adviser at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.  Morris is also the state coordinator for the competition.

“The competition is open to students in grades 9-12,” Morris said. “Students in economics, marketing or other types of financial classes are welcome to participate. In addition, a middle school pilot program is being tested throughout the nation.”

To date, Oklahoma has 20 teams competing in the online competition that ends on Jan. 28.  There is no cost for participating in the contest.

The top six teams in the state compete on Feb. 9 in Stillwater for the state championship.  The competition will then become an oral quiz bowl.  The national championship will take place in Philadelphia in April. 

For more information about the LifeSmarts quiz contest, contact Denise Morris at (405) 743-5467.

State Championship Update ! A five-student team from Cushing High School placed first at the state’s first LifeSmarts competition Feb. 9 at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education center in Stillwater.  Cushing High School LifeSmarts team members are, from left to right, Jessica Blodgett-adviser, Patricia Gillespie, Evan Booher-captain, Kendra Laughlin, Louden Patterson and Rachel Martin.  The team will travel to Philadelphia in April to compete at nationals.