For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Hedemark | Executive Director
RI Jump$tart Coalition
401.385.9411 | email

CollegeBoundfund Presents “March Smartness”

Seven High Schools to Compete in State LifeSmarts Consumer Competition

PROVIDENCE, RI, March 26, 2010 – Seven Rhode Island high school teams will compete in the Ocean State’s sixth LifeSmarts competition at the Rhode Island State House.

Presented by CollegeBoundfund, LifeSmarts, nicknamed “March Smartness” is a fast-paced, quiz-bowl style competition that educates and rewards teenagers for their knowledge of consumer issues including personal finance, technology, environment, health and safety, and consumer rights and responsibilities.  Additional details can be found here.

Competition coordinator and RI Jump$tart Coalition executive director, Jim Hedemark states, “In the midst of March Madness, we are excited to offer a program complete with brackets and buzzers that rewards teenagers for their life smartness.”

The seven high schools that will send teams of five students to the competition are:

Barrington, Burrillville, Coventry, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield, and Tolman.

Matches will begin at the State House at 9:00 a.m. and will continue through the final match to take place in the State Room at 12:30 p.m.  Click here for detailed agenda.  The state champion will claim the prestigious “Consumer Cup,” and qualify for the national competition to take place in Miami Beach between April 24-27.

State officials, Secretary of State, A. Ralph Mollis and Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch will speak to competitors during the certificate ceremony.

Peter Kerwin, spokesman for the CollegeBoundfund, Rhode Island’s 529 college savings plan, states, “Today’s consumer marketplace is more demanding than ever and leaves little room for errors that can haunt young people for years.  As these students transition to college and independent living, the lessons learned at the LifeSmarts competition will serve them well. ”

Previous Rhode Island state champions include, North Providence (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009) and Barrington (2007).

LifeSmarts: the ultimate consumer competition, was created and is managed by the National Consumers League (NCL) and is coordinated in Rhode Island by the RI Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.

Rhode Island program sponsors include CollegeBoundfund (presenting sponsor), The Verizon Pioneers, Herff-Jones, and the RI Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, AFT, AFL-CIO.