Wild Card Teams and Applications

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Varsity Wild Card Applications

LifeSmarts welcomes applications (also called bids) from Varsity LifeSmarts teams. The LifeSmarts Wild Card application process provides an opportunity for teams to apply for an invitation to compete in the 2025 National LifeSmarts Championship and contend for scholarships and prizes. Successful applicant teams are invited to compete at the National LifeSmarts Championship through a rigorous, project-based selection process.

The LifeSmarts Varsity Wild Card process provides an opportunity for 10 Varsity teams to earn an invitation to attend and compete in the 2025 Varsity National LifeSmarts Championship and includes a travel stipend of $1,250 upon completion of an assigned community service project.

Download the instructions for the application and competition process.

The deadline for Varsity Wild Card applications is February 14, 2025 at midnight EST.

The Wild Card Team Smarts quiz is available in the team captain’s quiz portal. It is available until February 28th, 2025.

Important: Any team whose State LifeSmarts Championship is held between February 15 – February 28, 2025 that is interested in applying for a Wild Card invitation to compete in the 2025 National LifeSmarts Championship should still apply by the February 14 deadline to be certain their application is considered should they not win their state championship.

Don’t miss out! Submit your teams Wild Card application today!

Questions? Contact the LifeSmarts Team.

Step 1 of 2

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Name of School/Organization*
Name of Team*
School/Organization Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code
Name of Coach*
Coach's Email Address*
Enter Email Confirm Email

Please make sure your school filters will allow our emails to reach you from LifeSmarts.org
Name of Assistant Coach (if your team already has an assistant coach*
Assistant Coach's Email Address*
Enter Email Confirm Email

Please make sure your school filters will allow our emails to reach you from LifeSmarts.org
Captain's Name*
Captain's Email Address*
Enter Email Confirm Email

Please make sure your school filters will allow our emails to reach you from LifeSmarts.org
This team is affiliated with:*

School / Organization Enrollment
This section collects aggregate data about the school / organization's enrollment. If students are from different schools or groups, use the enrollment information of the school /group where the most players attend or are from. Public schools may access information from the National Center for Education Statistics here: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/ For clubs, private schools, home school groups, or community organizations, please use the enrollment data for your specific program group, but not just your 4 to 5 member team. (Example: Trinity School, not just the Trinity LifeSmarts team). If this is a problem, please let us know.
Check all boxes that apply to the school/organization:*
- This is a public school.
- This is a private school.
- This is a club / school organization
- This is a community or religious organization
- This is a magnet school.
- This is a home school.
- This is a Title I school.
Enrollment by grade*
8th grade or lower 9th grade 10th grade 11th grade 12th grade
Enrollment by race/ethnicity*
American Indian / Alaska Native Asian / Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander Black / African American Hispanic White Multiracial
Enrollment by gender*
Male Female Gender identity not listed
Free/reduced lunch eligibility*
Eligible for free lunch Eligible for reduced-price lunch
Team's Participation in LifeSmarts
The first year this school/organization participated in LifeSmarts was:*
When did this school or organization begin participating in the LifeSmarts program?
Over the last 2 years, this team has participated in:*
To select multiple options, hold the Ctrl button while clicking.
The last time this school/organization competed at the National LifeSmarts Championship was:*
The last time this school/organization competed at an in-person (Not online) State LifeSmarts Championship was:*
Are any current team members from a team that competed at the LifeSmarts National Championship in 2023?*
- Yes
- No
Are any team members returning from a team that competed at the LifeSmarts National Championship in 2024?
If YES, list names and current grade level below:
List ANY returning team members who competed at the LifeSmarts National Championship in 2024 in the above space above and provide their current grade.
PowerPoint, Prez, Google Slides, or Canva Presentation*
Accepted file types: pptx, pptm, ppt, pdf, mp4.
• The presentation will include no more than 8 educational slides plus a reference slide for a total of 9 slides. The PowerPoint or Prezi may include a short embedded video. Audio voice over is also allowed. Due to size, the presentation may be saved as an mp4 video file if necessary. Allowed file extensions are: pptx, pptm, ppt, pdf, and mp4. • Before uploading, please be sure the file name includes your team or school name and your state. (E.g. WonderHSVarsity_MD).
Link to presentation if file does not upload (e.g. if using Prezi or Google Slides)

Make certain that you grant us permission to access the file!
Coach Statement*
Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, txt.
The Coach statement is limited to 750 words. Tell us about the students on your team individually or as a group. Share what they have accomplished as a team or what they plan to accomplish in the future. You may also include things you feel we should know about your community, your school, club, or organization, to better explain why your team and these students should be selected as a Wild Card team. Include any other information you would like the selection committee to consider about your team such as their work ethic, opportunities this would provide, their willingness and ability to fundraise, etc. You may include your coach participation in LifeSmarts, your use of LifeSmarts programs, and LifeSmarts curriculum and resources.
Team Captain Statement*
Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, txt.
The Team Captain statement is limited to 250 words. Tell us why your team should be chosen.

Wild Card Teams and Applications

Varsity Wild Card Applications

Step 1 of 2

School / Organization Enrollment

Team's Participation in LifeSmarts

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