LifeSmarts is an educational opportunity that develops the consumer and marketplace knowledge and skills of teenagers in a fun way and rewards them for this knowledge. The program complements any curriculum in high schools and can be used as an activity for classes, groups, clubs, and community organizations.

LifeSmarts, run as a game show style competition, is open to all teens in the USA in the 9th through the 12th grade. Teams of teens compete online and in state matches, with the state winners going to the regional and national competition to vie for the national LifeSmarts title. Players win prizes such as savings bonds, products, certificates, t-shirts, hats, and other items.

Are you ready for the challenge? Any teenager in grades 9-12 may participate, but each player MUST have an adult coach who signs on first. Players and teams may come from schools, families, 4H, FCCLA, neighborhoods, workplaces, community centers, youth groups, home schools, and any other similar source. If you are interested in LifeSmarts or want to enter the official 2009-2010 competition, please read information on the quiz entry page.

There are three parts to LifeSmarts competition:

1. Individual, online competition. This begins September 14, 2009 and ends in early February, 2010.


2. Team, in-person competition for the Tennessee state championship. The state competition is scheduled for February 27, 2010 at the Rutherford County Extension Office in Murfreesboro.


3. Team, in-person competition for the national championship. The national contest will be conducted in Miami Beach, FL in April, 2010.

Regardless of whether you advance to the state and national competitions, you can become an expert consumer. I wish each and every one of you the best of luck as you begin the first round, the Internet competition.

Sincerely,

Dena Wise, Ph.D., Tennessee LifeSmarts Coordinator
Professor, Family Economics
University of Tennessee Extension
(865) 974-8198

James Trimble, Tennessee LifeSmarts Assistant Coordinator
Extension Assistant, Family Economics
University of Tennessee Extension
(865) 974-6137