Junior Varsity National and State LifeSmarts Champions

Junior Varsity National and State LifeSmarts State Champions

2025 Junior Varsity National and State LifeSmarts Champions
First Place: Cobb County 4-H JV, Georgia, Coaches Kathleen McElroy and Colleen Bakhsh
Second Place: California,  Toby Johnson Middle School, Coach Ryan North
Third Place: Wisconsin, Oconto Middle School and Kansas Trailridge Middle School

Junior Varsity LifeSmarts State Champions:
Alabama
California
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Florida
Idaho
Kansas
Kentucky
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Wisconsin
Washington DC

Congratulations, Georgia!

The virtual Junior Varsity National LifeSmarts Championship was held May 14-15 with fifteen State LifeSmarts Junior Varsity Champion Teams from across the country competing.  The LifeSmarts Junior Varsity level involves students who are currently in grades 6 – 8.

Teams of 4 to 5 students competed virtually in East and West Divisions with the top two teams in each division advancing to the semi-finals on Thursday, May 15^th.  The winner of each semi-final competition advanced to the final competition match.

The teams from Georgia (Cobb County 4-H JV, Georgia 4-H) and Wisconsin (Oconto Middle School) were the East division semi-finalists while California (Toby Johnson Middle School) and Kansas (Trailridge Middle School ) were the West division semi-finalists. In very close semi-final matches, Georgia and California advanced to the Junior Varsity National Championship Finals.

In a hard-fought match where the lead went back and forth, Georgia won the Junior Varsity National LifeSmarts Championship title.  The Georgia team members are Camille Days, Rakshath Jayavel, Navin Natarajan; Malhar Rajole, and Joy Patadia,  and coaches are Kathleen McElroy and Colleen Bakhsh.

The team earns the title of Junior Varsity National LifeSmarts Champion, LifeSmarts Champion medallions, cash awards for the team , and other prizes courtesy of LifeSmarts and LifeSmarts sponsors.

California took second place, with Kansas and Wisconsin tying for third place. Also competing in the National Championship were teams from Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, , North Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas.

LifeSmarts is the youth consumer education, leadership, and scholarship program run by the Washington, DC-based National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s oldest consumer advocacy organization. It competitively tests junior high / middle school, and high school student’s knowledge of five topic areas including consumer rights & responsibilities, personal finance, health & safety, technology & workforce preparation, and the environment in online and in-person competitions using a quiz bowl-style format. LifeSmarts is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in partnership with student leadership programs including Student Government, 4-H, BPA, FBLA, FCCLA, and SkillsUSA. To learn more about, visit LifeSmarts.

2023-2024 Junior Varsity National and State LifeSmarts Champions:

First Place: Georgia, Gordon County 4-H JV, Georgia 4-H – First ever Junior Varsity National LifeSmarts Champions
Second Place: Kansas Trailridge Middle School – Seek Team 1
Third Place: Florida Northview 4-H JV Team 1, Florida 4-H and Nebraska Kearney Catholic Middle JV

State Champions:

Colorado – Larimer County 4-H JV
Florida – Northview 4-H  JV Team 1
Georgia – Gordon County 4-H JV
Kansas – Trailridge Middle School – Seek Team 1
Minnesota – RTR Sixth
Missouri – Owensville Middle School Seek 1
Nebraska – Kearney Catholic Middle JV
North Carolina – McGee’s Crossroads Middle School JV
North Dakota – Rambling Wreck from LMHS
Texas – Bartlett FCCLA BullPups
Wisconsin – Oconto JV LifeSmarts – Oconto Middle School

JV Champions not competing – Kentucky, Alabama

Congratulations, Georgia!

The first -ever virtual Junior Varsity National LifeSmarts Championship was held May 9-10, 2024 with eleven State LifeSmarts Junior Varsity Champion Teams from across the country competing.  The LifeSmarts Junior Varsity level involves students who are currently in grades 6 – 8.

Teams of 4 to 5 students competed virtually in East and West Divisions with the top two teams in each division advancing to the semi-finals on Friday, May 10^th.  The winner of each semi-final competition advanced to the final competition match.

The teams from Georgia (Gordon County 4-H JV, Georgia 4-H) and Florida (Northview 4-H JV Team 1, Florida 4-H) were the East division semi-finalists while Kansas (Trailridge Middle School – Seek Team 1) and Nebraska (Kearney Catholic Middle JV) were the West division semi-finalists. In very close semi-final matches, Georgia and Kansas advanced to the Junior Varsity National Championship Finals.

In a hard-fought match where the lead went back and forth several times, Georgia earned the Junior Varsity National LifeSmarts Championship title by five points.  The Georgia team members are Jet Johnston, Preslie Parish, Julio Rodrigues, and Emma Osmanivic and are coached by Carrie Greeson-Parish.

The team earns bragging rights as the first Junior Varsity National LifeSmarts Champion, LifeSmarts Champion medallions, cash awards for each team member, and other prizes courtesy of LifeSmarts and LifeSmarts sponsors.

Kansas took second place, with Florida and Nebraska tying for third place. Also competing in the National Championship were teams from Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.

LifeSmarts is the youth consumer education, leadership, and scholarship program run by the Washington, DC-based National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s oldest consumer advocacy organization. It competitively tests junior high / middle school, and high school student’s knowledge of five topic areas including consumer rights and responsibilities, personal finance, health & safety, technology & workforce preparation, and the environment in online and in-person competitions using a quiz bowl-style format. LifeSmarts is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in partnership with student leadership programs such as 4-H, BPA, FBLA, FCCLA, and SkillsUSA. To learn more about, visit LifeSmarts.

Junior Varsity LifeSmarts State Champions:

Colorado – Calhan JV Team, Calhan Middle School, FCCLA
Florida – Northview JV Team 1, Northview 4-H Club, Florida 4-H
Georgia – Gordon County 4-H JV, Georgia 4-H
Hawaii – KeREd, Ewa Makai Middle School
Idaho – Tater Tots 4-H JV, Minidoka County 4-H Teen Association, Idaho 4-H
Indiana – Purpura Crebronas, Steuben County 4-H, Indiana 4-H
Kansas – WC, Trailridge Middle School
Kentucky – Harrison County 4-H, Kentucky 4-H
Minnesota – RTR Middle Teams 1&4, Russell Tyler Ruthton FCCLA
Missouri – OMS 1, Owensville Middle School
Nebraska – Medicine Valley Junior High Team 1
North Dakota – Rambling Wreck from LMHS, Litchville-Marion High School 8th Grade
Oklahoma – Maryetta 4-H JV, Maryetta Public School 4-H, Oklahoma 4-H
Texas – Bulldog Pups, Bartlett Middle School FCCLA

Junior Varsity LifeSmarts State Champions:
Georgia – Columbia County 4-H JV, Georgia 4-H
Hawaii – Above 50% – Ewa Makai Middle School
Kansas – Iola Mustangs JV, Iola Middle School –
Kentucky – Muhlenberg County 4-H, Kentucky 4-H
Missouri – OMS Dutchmen, Owensville Middle School  –
Nebraska – Medicine Valley Junior Team
Texas – Bulldog Pups, Bartlett FCCLA

Junior Varsity LifeSmarts State Champions:

Georgia – Elbert County 4-H
Hawaii – Gold Bar Champs – Ewa Makai Middle School
Idaho – Canyon County 4-H JV
Kansas: SEEK-5 from Trailridge Middle School
Missouri – Owensville One – Owensville Middle School
North Dakota – Granville 2025 – Granville Middle School
Texas – Bulldog Pups – Bartlett Middle School FCCLA
 

Junior Varsity State LifeSmarts Champions:

Congratulations to these outstanding Junior Varsity teams and their coaches:

Georgia: Floyd County 4-H Junior Varsity
Hawaii: Ewa Makai Middle School
Kansas: Children of Athena, Garden Plain Elementary
Kentucky: Webster County 4-H
Missouri: Owensville Middle School Dutchmen
North Carolina: North Carolina Leadership Academy
South Dakota: Clark Junior Varsity FCCLA
Vermont: Twin Valley Middle High School

Junior Varsity State LifeSmarts Champions

Georgia – Oconee County 4-H JV

Junior Varsity LifeSmarts State Champions:
Alabama: Clay-Chalkville Middle School, Coach Tina Hamrick
Georgia: Gwinett County 4-H, Coach Jean Martin
Hawaii: Ewa Makai Middle School, Coach Janet Bagby
Illinois: LaMoille High School, Coach Carol Darveau
Kansas: Westridge, Coach Benita Holder
Missouri: Blair Oaks Middle School, Coach Debby Anderson
North Dakota: Jamestown High School, Coach Marchel Krieger

District of Columbia: UPO POWER, Coach Kenny Carroll
Georgia: Gwinett County 4-H, Coach Jean Martin
Illinois: LaMoille High School, Coach Carol Darveau
Kansas: Trailridge Junior High School, Coach Cassie Shonfelt
Maryland: Immaculate Conception School, Coach Suzanne Mann
Minnesota: Willow River High School, Coach Melissa Johnson
Missouri: Blair Oaks Middle School, Coach Cynthia Sullivan
North Carolina: Union Academy, Coach Kim Kirk
North Dakota: Hettinger High School, Coach Ronda Schauer
Virginia: Henrico County 4-H, Coach Kathleen Cantwell
Wisconsin: Gilman Middle School, Coach Bonnie Lang

Georgia: Gwinett County 4-H, Coach Jean Martin
Illinois: LaMoille High School, Coach Carol Darveau
Kansas: Westridge Middle School, Coach Benita Holder
Missouri: Blair Oaks Middle School, Coach Cynthia Sullivan
North Dakota: Hettinger High School, Coach Ronda Schauer
Tennessee: Chester County Junior High School, Coach Rebecca Seratt
Virginia: Henrico County 4-H, Coach Kathleen Cantwell

Georgia: Houston County 4-H, Coach Kellie Day
Illinois: LaMoille High School, Coach Carol Darveau
Kansas: Iola Middle School, Coach Jean Johns
Missouri: Blair Oaks Middle School, Coach Cynthia Sullivan
Virginia: Henrico County 4-H, Coach Kathleen Cantwell