Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Maysville High School - 1st Place
"Savvy Consumers"
Ethan Osborn, Allison Miller (team captain), Audrey Goodwin, Nicole Bird, and Nick Erickson.

Benton High School - 2nd Place

"Benton Cardinals"

Back row: Jayse Musser (Captain), Mike Weil, Nick Weil

Front row:Blayr Bolton, Clara Liles (Coach), Brittany Beaver

Southern Reynolds R-II

"The Whippets"

Back row: Jarrett Kille, Chad Mann, Joaquin Wilfong,

Front row: Jennette Wilfong (Captain), Brittany Stroup, Krista Hampton (Coach)

Worth County R-III

"Better WCHS Tigers"

Back row: Patti Spainhower (Coach), Kimberly Harding (Captain)

Front row:Colton Meek, Todd Corbett, Scott Sherer

Sherwood High School

"Snap, Crackle, Pop and Bob"

Back row: Doug Osborne (Coach), Brandon Wehmeyer, Cody Ford, Dianne Hon (Co-Coach)

Front row:Logan Howard, Tyler Wilson (Captain), Barrett Burford

LifeSmarts is a national program run by the National Consumers League that encourages students to develop consumer and marketplace skills in a fun way.  The varsity level, now in its fifth year in Missouri, is open to students in grades 9-12.  A junior-varsity division opened this year for students in grades 6-8.

In Missouri, 1,260 high school students in 100 teams tested their consumer knowledge in the areas of personal finance, health, safety, the environment, technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities.  The Attorney General’s office also submitted Missouri-specific questions that were used in the championship finals.

Several teams were visted by members of the Missouri House of Representatives. Shown above on the left is Representative Doug Funderburk with Ft. Zumwalt South. On the right is Representative J.C. Kuessner with Southern Reynolds R-III.

This year’s event began with an online competition where student teams competed for top scores.  Fifty-four teams qualified through the online competition, having at least four members complete all three tests offered.  The nine highest-scoring qualified teams were invited to the state championship to test their knowledge and skills in the game show-style event.

LifeSmarts Question Master Scott Oberkrom (shown above) is community investments consultant for American Century Investments of Kansas City. He offered congratulations to all LifeSmarts participants.  “Everyone in the LifeSmarts program is a winner,” he said.  “As the students prepared for the competition, they learned to recognize and avoid common consumer scams and have a better appreciation for how their personal economic, health, environmental and security choices impact the world around them.”

Second-place team coach, Clara Liles, was proud of her students’ valiant effort and light-heartedly offered hope for next year’s competition, pointing out that the Savvy Consumers will be graduating this spring.

The statewide program is coordinated by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Missouri Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) organization.  Missouri LifeSmarts’ financial sponsor is American Century Investments of Kansas City.

Missouri Names First Junior Varsity LifeSmarts Champs

Camdenton Middle School - 1st Place

"Laker Ottopilots 8"

Back row: Mary Beth Otto (Coach), Grace Cooney, Melinda Wilson

Front row: Julia Mann (Captain), Jonathan Lapeyre, Kendall Thiesse

A consumer-savvy team from Camdenton Middle School emerged winners of the first-ever Junior Varsity competition in the Missouri LifeSmarts educational program.  The eighth grade student team, dubbed the “Laker Ottopilots 8,” answered some very tough questions to prevail in the championship event held in Jefferson City, February. 26.  The Laker Ottopilots 8 team is coached by Mary Otto, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Camdenton Middle School.  Team members include Julia Mann, Jonathan Lapeyre, Grace Cooney, Melinda Wilson and Kendall Thiesse.

Sherwood Middle School, Creighton, took second place in the statewide competition, and Linn Junior High School, Linn, came in third.

Sherwood Middle School - 2nd Place

"Junior Marksmen"

Back row: Doug Osborne (Co-Coach), Lacey Dalton, Austin Nigh, Dianne Hon (Coach), Scott Oberkrom (American Century Investments)

Front row: Krystal Adams (Captain), Curtis Grimes, Whitney Funderburk

Linn Junior High - 3rd Place

"Wildcats"

Back row: Patrick Dudenhoeffer, Mikaelynn Frank, Sharon Baker (Coach)

Front row: Emily Russom, Tanner Gotthardt, Elizabeth Groff (Captain)

Camdenton Middle School

"Laker Ottopilots 7"

Back row: Carter Ford, Mary Beth Otto (Coach), Kyle Gulshen (Captain)

Front row: Kaslyn Alexander, Slayton St. Pierre, Logan Warnock

Lutie R-VI

"The Lutie Lifesavers"

Back row: Haley Wood, Sandra Roberts (Coach)

Front row: Joe Terry, Karli Dilts, Jacob Ross (Captain)

Competition questions were tailored specifically for the middle school-level student.  The six highest-scoring teams were invited to the state championship to test their knowledge skills in a game show-style event, as is done each year at the varsity level.  Missouri was one of eight states to hold a state championship event for the inaugural junior varsity contest.

So, how does it feel to be the first-ever Junior Varsity LifeSmarts winner?  “It’s awesome!” said team captain, Julia Mann.  “Obviously, being a part of LifeSmarts history is something really exciting for all our team members.”

Camdenton Middle School also fielded a seventh grade team, the Laker Ottopilots 7, which made it to the state championship finals.  “Our seventh grade team is pumped and will definitely compete again next year,” said Otto, obviously proud of her two teams.  “Our eighth grade team is looking forward to moving up to the high school varsity level competition next year and, hopefully, getting a shot at going to nationals.”

Teams signing up for the LifeSmarts competition were offered free flash cards and other materials to study for the event, which emphasizes financial literacy.

“Our students have been practicing since October,” said Otto who credited their success largely on everyone’s support and having two teams preparing and practicing together.  She said having two teams, plus alternates, allowed them to have friendly challenges among themselves leading up to the events.

The statewide program is coordinated by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).  The financial sponsor is American Century Investments of Kansas City.

A new season of LifeSmarts competition begins in September.  This year the National Varsity competition will be held in St. Louis!

For more information you may contact Merilee Thoenen at (573) 751-6878 or Merilee.Thoenen@dese.mo.gov.