Season 32 launches September 8th. Please contact ryanb@nclnet.org with any questions.
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LEAP – LifeSmarts Engagement Advisory Panel
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Be a LifeSmarts Leader
LEAP(LifeSmarts Engagement Advisory Panel) is a panel composed of outstanding LifeSmarts students chosen through a yearly nomination process. LEAP members partner with national staff to provide youth voice for the LifeSmarts program. They create program ideas, provide advice on programming ideas and events, help promote LifeSmarts nationally and serve in key leadership roles at the National LifeSmarts Championship and other events. LEAP provides a forum for student leaders to have opportunities to enhance as well as to give back to the LifeSmarts program.
Take an active role in LifeSmarts!
Ask your coach to nominate you at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/D3GZMZW by JUNE 15, 2025 Applicants will have a ten -minute Zoom interview in July and the new panel will be announced in August.
Contact Cheryl Varnadoe, LifeSmarts Program Director, to learn more or to contact our LEAP members at cherylv@nclnet.org.
Meet the 2024-2025 LifeSmarts LEAP Members
Mahi Dhol
Pennsylvania
Name: Mahi Dhol
Age: 16
State: Pennsylvania
Grade: 11th
Mahi is a member of the Dallas High School Lifesmarts Team from Dallas High School in Pennsylvania.
Quote: “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently”- Henry Ford
Favorite thing about Life Smarts: One of the things I enjoyed most about my experience in Lifesmarts is the opportunity it brings to get closer to your teammates. It also offers insights about important aspects of life not often taught in school, along with offering a variety of scholarships.
Favorite category: Personal Finance and Health and Safety
What do I do in my free time: I love to cook, eat, sleep, play tennis, and talk to others 🙂
“With activities like SpeedSmarts and the sister team activities, Lifesmarts proves to be a place where you can meet new people and deepen friendships.”
Ganah Elhemri
Colorado
Name: Ganah Elhemri
Age: 17
State: Colorado
Grade: 11th
Ganah is a member of the Colorado 4-H team in Colorado.
Quote: “What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well”
Favorite thing about Life Smarts: Getting to know people while learning something new! I’ve gotten to be really good friends with a lot of my team members, and always look forward to meeting people at Nationals. I also love to learn, and I gain so much knowledge in LifeSmarts.
Favorite category: Consumer Rights
What do I do in my free time: I really love to read, watch movies, and spend time outside!
“I am so excited for my third year in LifeSmarts and look forward to an experience that I know will be amazing! “
Kayden Mort
Idaho
Name: Kayden Mort
Age: 16
State: Idaho
Grade: 11th
Kayden is a member of Minidoka County 4-H Saucey Fries and Idaho 4-H and FFA in Idaho.
I am a three sport athlete at Minico High School and a proud 4-H and FFA member.
Quote: “It’s not a meal it’s a mind set”- Michael Jordan
Favorite thing about Life Smarts: Being able to meet all the new people I have met and creating memories with my friends from all over the country.
Favorite category: Health & Safety
“I am super grateful for my coach Jeni Bywater, parents, family, and all my friends in my life.”
William Parish
Georgia
Name: William Parish
Age: 16
State: Georgia
Grade: 11th
William is a member of the Gordon County 4-H Varsity team and Georgia 4-H at Gordon Central High School in Georgia.
Quote: “If you ain’t first, you’re last.” – Talladega Nights
Favorite thing about Life Smarts: The competition itself or being able to visit different cities.
Favorite category: Environmental science as I plan to go into a career in agriculture.
What do I do in my free time: My spark is music, 4-H & FFA (agriculture), and baseball.
“I love LifeSmarts and buzzers!”
Giuseppe “Joe” Rutledge
Georgia
Name: Giuseppe “Joe” Rutledge
Age: 16
State: Georgia
Grade: 11th
Joe is a member of the Floyd County LifeSmarts team, Georgia 4-H, and SkillsUSA in Georgia.
Quote: “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein
Favorite thing about Life Smarts: I love meeting new people at Nationals, the dance party, and competing.
Favorite category: Environment
What do I do in my free time: I spend my free time in the gym, reading, biking, and at 4-H events.
Meet the 2024-2025 LifeSmarts LEAP Advisers
Cheryl Varnadoe
LEAP Adviser and Associate Program Director - LifeSmarts
Cheryl Varnadoe serves as the LifeSmarts Associate Program Director She works with LEAP along with Sarah Elwell.
Prior to joining the LifeSmarts team, Cheryl worked as a 4-H Specialist at the University of Georgia until her retirement and served as the Georgia State LifeSmarts Coordinator. She was also named LifeSmarts State Coordinator of the Year in 2018.
Sarah Elwell
Assistant Director of Professional Learning at American Federation of Teachers
Sarah Elwell serves as the Assistant Director of Professional Learning at American Federation of Teachers. She is also one of the advisors/mentors for our LifeSmarts LEAP and serves as a LifeSmarts coordinator for the District of Columbia!
Calendar for 2024-2025
- Applications open annually after the National LifeSmarts Championship for Varsity teams.
- New members announced during summer
- Online meetings and conference calls during school year – approximately once every six weeks
- Host online meetings for LifeSmarts students
- Assist at the National LifeSmarts Championship
- Members who are not competing with their team at the National LifeSmarts Championship may apply for a scholarship to attend and help us in-person at the National LifeSmarts Championship, April 24-27, 2025, in Chicago, IL.
- Help with the online Junior Varsity National LifeSmarts Championship May, 14-15, 2025.
- Promote LifeSmarts at other events you are attending on the State and National Level
- Other roles and responsibilities as decided by the LEAP members, LEAP panel leaders and the LifeSmarts Team
LifeSmarts LEAP Alumni
Shaan Agarwal
Virginia
Name: Shaan Agarwal
Age: 17
State: Virginia
Grade: 12th
Shaan is a member of FBLA in Virginia.
Quote: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts” – Winston Churchill
Favorite thing about Life Smarts: I like meeting new friends at Nationals. I enjoy hearing from guest speakers and find it inspiring, and I enjoy spending time around others who are passionate about learning.
Favorite category: Personal Finance
What do I do in my free time: I love to go on long walks with my dog and I love to hang out with my friends after school
“I am so excited to work with all of our teams this year and I can’t wait to see all of you in Chicago.”
Hannah Christianson
Washington
Name: Hannah Christianson
Age: 17
State: Washington
Grade: 12th
Hannah Christianson is a member of the Selah High School LifeSmarts team as well as the Selah Gold FCCLA / LifeSmarts Knowledge Bowl team.
Quote: “Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes. – Maggie Smith”
Favorite thing about Life Smarts: I’ve been to four national competitions now, hosted by both LifeSmarts and FCCLA, and I love meeting and talking with people from all over the nation. (Also, it’s basically a vacation with your best friends!)
Favorite category: Consumer Rights & Responsibilities and Environment
What do I do in my free time: I run cross country, so running with my teammates and training partners has been a highlight. I play soccer and love animals.
“My original LifeSmarts coach and FCCLA Adviser retired this year so she gave me 20 years of study materials to type up!”
Chloe Doiron
Louisiana
Name: Chloe Doiron
Age: 17
State: Louisiana
Grade: 12th
Chloe is a member of the West Feliciana LifeSmarts Team from West Feliciana High School in Louisiana.
I am involved in Beta, Life Smarts, varsity soccer, Young Life, student council, and my school’s special education enrichment program.
Quote: “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. – Mark Twain”
Favorite thing about Life Smarts: I like meeting new friends at Nationals and I enjoy spending time around others who are passionate about learning.
Favorite category: Environment and Health & Safety
What do I do in my free time: I enjoy talking to my friends, playing soccer and pickleball, and going to the gym. I also enjoy learning foreign languages.
“I enjoy hearing from guest speakers and find it inspiring.”
Nadine Kattoum
Tennessee
Name: Nadine Kattoum
Age: 17
State: Tennessee
Grade: 12th
Nadine is a member of the Madison County 4-H LifeSmarts team in Tennessee.
I go to Early College High School and am involved in many extracurriculars such as Beta Club, NHS, Yearbook Club, Service Club, Jackson Juniorettes, 4-H, LifeSmarts, and I play soccer!
Quote: “ No one is free until we are free” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Favorite thing about Life Smarts: Working with my teammates and learning about topics that will be used throughout my life.
Favorite category: Environment
What do I do in my free time: I play soccer and spend time with family or friends! I also enjoy baking, building Legos, and painting!
Coleman Mangham
Georgia
Name: Coleman Mangham
Age: 17
State: Georgia
Grade: 12th
Coleman Mangham is a member of the Tift County 4-H Varsity LifeSmarts team from Georgia.
Quote: “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard. – John F. Kennedy”
Favorite thing about LifeSmarts: You get to compete as a team but are also able to challenge yourself and you get to learn about things that you are going to use later in life while competiting. Also, all of the different people that you meet at the National LifeSmarts Championship.
Favorite category: Technology & Workforce Preparation and Personal Finance
What do I do in my free time: 4-H, coding random projects, and keeping up with all the different things going on with spacke organizations around the world.
Graceyn Moore
Arkansas
Name: Graceyn Moore
Age: 17
State: Arkansas
Grade: 12th
Graceyn is a member of the Benton County 4-H Team based in Arkansas.
I show Herefords and Black Hereford Cattle, and am also involved in Student Council, NHS and several
4-H clubs.
Quote: “Always stay humble and kind”- Tim McGraw
Favorite thing about Life Smarts: Meeting new people from all over the country.
Favorite category: Health & Safety
What do I do in my free time: I show Herefords and Black Hereford Cattle, and am also involved in Student Council, NHS and several 4-H clubs.
“Make the most of every opportunity you have! Time really does fly, so do what you can while you have the opportunity!”
Allie Higgins
Idaho
Name: Allie Higgins
Age: 16
State: Idaho
Grade: 11th
Allie Higgins is a member of the Teal Taters LifeSmarts Team from Idaho and Idaho 4-H.
Favorite thing about Life Smarts: My favorite thing is the community that I have made for myself. I have met some awesome people at LifeSmarts Nationals and I love my team and feel very connected to them.
Favorite category: Personal Finance & Environment
What do I do in my free time: Read, Play viola in school orchestra, dancing, cake decorating, crochet and other crafts.
“This is my third year in LifeSmarts and I have had awesome experiences!”
Ryleigh Hill
Oklahoma
Name: Ryleigh Hill
Age: 17
State: Oklahoma
Grade: 12th
Ryleigh is a member of the Pryor High School LifeSmarts Team from Pryor High in Oklahoma.
I also am involved in HS, Student Council, and Spanish Club
Favorite quote: “When it feels scary to jump, that is exactly when you jump. Otherwise, you end up staying in the same place your whole life.”
Favorite Lifesmarts topic: Environment
Favorite thing about Lifesmarts: I love meeting everyone and being in buzzer rounds with my team!
Things I like to do in my free time: I like to bake, design fashion, sew, study languages, and hang out with my family and friends!
“LifeSmarts has opened so many doors for me and has allowed me to learn so many useful pieces of information!”
Sara Ash Sonnier
Georgia
Name: Sara “Ash” Sonnier
Age: 17
State: Georgia
Grade: 12th
Ash is a member of the Columbia County 4-H Varsity Team in Georgia, 4-H, and Grovetown High School TSA Techbowl Team in Georgia.
Quote: “The same water that boils a potato hardens an egg”
Favorite thing about Life Smarts: I loved staffing for nationals in San Diego as well as any SpeedSmarts events in LifeSmarts.
Favorite category: Health & Safety
What do I do in my free time: When I’m not at a 4-H event you can typically find me speaking and competing in various events such as Model United Nations, History Bowl, TSA, Student Council office, and debate.
“I’ve been in LifeSmarts for over 6 years now!”
Linda Cumpton
LEAP Adviser and Missouri State LifeSmarts Adviser
Linda Cumpton serves as one of the advisors / mentors for our LifeSmarts LEAP. Linda is a former LifeSmarts Coach of the Year and now serves as a LifeSmarts State Co-coordinator for the state of Missouri!
Ready to get started
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