Teens in Rockdale Extension/4-H Club place in national consumer literacy competition

Students from Rockdale County Extension/4-H Club have placed in a national consumer literacy competition, LifeSmarts, earning them a chance to compete in the next National LifeSmarts Championship.

LifeSmarts, a consumer education competition that challenges teens in grades 9-12 about personal finance, health and safety, the environment, technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities, is a program of the National Consumers League (NCL).

The winning team is coached by Aleshia Lewis. Students include:

Abby Lassiter (11^th grade), captain

Collin Wheaton (11^th grade)

C’Mone Wheaton (10^th grade)

Christian Wheaton (9^th grade)

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the in-person 2020 National LifeSmarts Championship was cancelled. The Rockdale County Extension/4-H Club has qualified to compete at the 2021 National LifeSmarts Championship, which will be held in Cincinnati April 17-20, 2021.

 The students from Rockdale County Extension/4-H Club will compete as the 4-H Wild Card team in Cincinnati against other Wild Card and state champion teams. Wild Card teams earn their spot by excelling in a national project-based competition.

“LifeSmarts participants from Rockdale County Extension/4-H Club have gained many of the consumer ‘smarts’ they’ll need to make it in the real world,” said LifeSmarts Program Director Lisa Hertzberg. “We’re proud to crown the deserving teens from Rockdale County Extension/4-H Club as one of this year’s Wild Card teams and hope to see them in Cincinnati next year.”

In Georgia, the LifeSmarts program is coordinated by Brittani Lee, County Extension 4-H Agent, and Courtney Brown, Extension 4-H Specialist, Healthy Living Programs, both with the University of Georgia.

In 26 years, LifeSmarts has educated more than 1 million students about core consumer topics, helped students develop critical thinking skills, and provided leadership opportunities. LifeSmarts students also give back through a variety of community service projects.

“LifeSmarts participants win by learning to avoid common consumer pitfalls, navigate the government, and understand credit card jargon before they have to sign on the dotted line,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of NCL, a Washington, DC-based national nonprofit watchdog organization.