LifeSmarts Competition Tests NM Teens' Knowledge of Consumer Issues

Date:  March 3, 1997
Editor: D'Lyn Ford  (505) 646-6528, dlford@nmsu.edu

LAS CRUCES -- Eight teams of students from around the state will be competing in Albuquerque March 8 in "LifeSmarts...the ultimate consumer challenge," a quiz bowl that tests their knowledge of real life consumer issues.

The competition, created in 1995 by the National Coalition for Consumer Education (NCCE), challenges high school students' knowledge of personal financial management, health and safety, environment and technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities. The contest is sponsored in New Mexico by the state attorney general's office and New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service.

The teams competing for the state title are Bernalillo County 4-H, Bernalillo County 4-H Homeschoolers, Gallup's Central High School, Des Moines High School, Elida High School, Raton High School, Pojoaque High School FHA/HERO, and the Mesilla Valley Christian School Educators from Las Cruces. These teams applied and were selected to participate by NCCE. The winners will advance to the national finals in Philadelphia April 28-29.

"Consumer education is very important because everyone is a consumer," said Tom Gardner of the state attorney general's office. "We've found that education is the best prevention for fraud."

According to Gardner, seven states require some form of consumer education for high school graduation. "Unfortunately New Mexico isn't one of those states. For teens to learn about consumer issues, they have to sign up for home economics courses."

This is the first year for the LifeSmarts competition in New Mexico. The public is invited to attend the contest, emceed by Attorney General Tom Udall, March 8 at 9 a.m. at the 4-H Center, 1500 Menaul NW, in Albuquerque.