Virginia LifeSmarts
LifeSmarts, the ultimate consumer challenge, is an educational program that develops the consumer and marketplace skills of teenagers in a fun way and rewards them for knowledge they demonstrate. The program complements any curriculum in high schools and can be used as an activity for clsases, groups, clubs, and community organizations. LifeSmarts competitions are run in a game-show style an dare open to all teens in the United States in grades 9 through 12. Teams of teens compete online and in state matches, with the state winners going to the national competition to vie for the LifeSmart championship title.
LifeSmarts is a flexible classroom or group activity that teaches teens to be smart and responsible consumers and citizens. The content focuses on five key areas of consumer knowledge that teens need to know to function effectively in today's marketplace. LifeSmarts participants learn about:
- Personal finance
- Health and safety
- The environment
- Technology
- Consumer rights and responsibilities
Students begin online where they use LifeSmarts resources and practice competitions from September to January. Working independently, students take five 20-question quizzes — one on each LifeSmarts topic. Teams composed of four or five students with qualifying scores are invited to the state competition.
The winning team receives financial assistance toward their trip to the national championship to represent Virginia. The 2015 National LifeSmarts Championship will be April 17-20, 2015 in Seattle, WA.
| Hungry 4-H Caterpillars Coach: Amber Wilson | WYSIWYG Coach: Karie Dawkins |
| CHHS_CMWT Coach: Lynne Slater | Statesman ANs Coach: Rebekah Glasbrenner |
| Green Dragons Coach: Don Blanton | Statesman Been Had Polo Coach: Rebekah Glasbrenner |
| Phoenix Coach: Karie Dawkins | Statesman Goons Coach: Rebekah Glasbrenner |
| 2014 | Henrico 4-H |
| 2013 | Maggie L. Walker Governors School |
| 2011-2012 | George C. Marshall High School |
| 2010 | Maggie L. Walker Governors School |
| 2008-2009 | Spotsylvania High School |
| 2007 | George C. Marshall High School |
| 2005-2006 | Henrico 4-H |
| 2003-2004 | Maggie L. Walker Governors School |
| 2002-2001 | Washington County 4-H |
| 2000 | Clover Hill High School |
| 1999 | Fairfax 4-H |
| 1998 | Henrico 4-H |
| 1997 | Northumberland County |
| 1996 | New Kent High School 4-H |
| Kimberly Edmonds Henrico County Cooperative Extension State Co-Coordinator |
Cherry Hedges Virginia Credit Union State Co-Coordinator |
| Amanda Blanks State Corporation Commission |
Robyn Clark Henrico Federal Credit Union |
| LaDonna Cruse VHDA |
Suzanne Gallagher Center for Economic Education |
| Brenda Hicks Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Inc. |
David Irvin Office of the Virginia Attorney General |
| Dawn Lindley Virginia Credit Union League |
Melissa Smarr Fairfax County Consumer Protection |
| Cristin Sprenger Rockingham County Cooperative Extension |
Angie Taylor Argent Federal Credit Union |
| Katha Treanor State Corporation Commission |
Henrico 4-H team wins Virginia title, ties for fourth nationally in LifeSmarts
A Henrico County 4-H team recently completed a successful run in the LifeSmarts consumer education competitions, capturing the Virginia championship and finishing tied for fourth nationally in Orlando, Florida.
A program of the National Consumers League, LifeSmarts is a consumer education competition that challenges students in ninth through 12th grades with questions about personal finance, health and safety, the environment, technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities.
The Henrico 4-H team — known as WSIWYG, an abbreviation for “what you see is what you get” — consists of students Emma Shepard, Curtis Cantwell, Joshua Hyde, Steven Baker and George Evans. Coach Karie Dawkins leads the squad with assistant coaches Kathleen Cantwell and Sheila Hyde.
Teams across Virginia competed online early this year for a chance to participate in the state’s LifeSmarts finals, held March 7 at the Virginia Housing Development Authority’s Virginia Housing Center in Henrico. WSIWYG defeated seven teams to capture the Virginia State LifeSmarts Championship and qualify for the LifeSmarts National Championship, held April 26-29 in Orlando.
In the national competition, WSIWYG ranked eighth overall in points after eight rounds, which allowed the team to advance to the quarterfinals. The team finished tied for fourth, with teams from Pennsylvania, Arizona and Tennessee. Overall, the competition featured 34 teams representing 32 states, Future Business Leaders of America, and Future Career and Community Leaders of America. Two WSIWYG team members placed in the individual competition. Emma Shepard finished second nationally in health and safety, while Joshua Hyde placed fourth in environment.
Henrico’s 4-H program has had four teams to represent Virginia in the national LifeSmarts competition since 1995.
“LifeSmarts participants in Virginia have gained many of the consumer ‘smarts’ they’ll need to make it in the real world,” said Kimberly Edmonds, family and consumer sciences extension agent for Henrico and co-coordinator of LifeSmarts for Virginia. “We are proud of the WSIWYG team and how well it represented Virginia.” Henrico 4-H is a comprehensive youth development program that offers hands-on learning experiences under the guidance of 4-H agents and trained adult or teen volunteers. Program offerings include recreational camps and a variety of contests and clubs.
Learn more about Henrico’s 4-H and LifeSmarts programs.