On Thursday, March 11th, the Public and Community Affairs Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston hosted its 7th annual Massachusetts LifeSmarts Consumer and Financial Education State Competition. The event began and ended with much excitement as more than 100 students from around the state clashed wits for top honors.

In a quiz show format, complete with buzzers, lights and officials, the teams squared off in the early matches (14 in all) to come up with the teams that would compete in the semi-finals. Losing teams in the early matches were given a second chance to advance to the semi-finals by playing in wild card matches.

From the semi-final matches, two teams emerged the victors: 4-H 1729 (Golden Hearts 4-H Club) and Palmer Panthers Team 1 (Palmer High School). Both teams came to the final match ready and expecting to take home the title of state champions.

The two teams were neck-to-neck throughout the match. Tensions rose as the teams matched wits and scores. During the challenge round, the Palmer Panthers rallied and pulled ahead to beat the 4-H Club by 40 points.

Sharon St. Louis, LifeSmarts State Coordinator, closed the competition with words of thanks to all involved in the planning and execution of the competition and congratulations to the winning and runner up teams.

The teams were presented with trophies, savings bonds, and other prizes at the awards ceremony that followed. The winning team, Palmer High School - Palmer Panthers Team 1 will represent Massachusetts at the National Competition, April 24 - 27, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois.

LifeSmarts is a consumer and financial education program for high school students that is sponsored nationally by the National Consumers League in Washington, D.C. The Bank is the state sponsor that is co-coordinated by Sharon St. Louis and Lillian Seay of the Public and Community Affairs Department.

In preparation for the competition, teens learn what it takes to be smart and responsible consumers and thus responsible citizens. To qualify for the State competition, team members take a series of preliminary online quizzes that focus on five key areas of consumer knowledge:

• Personal Finance
• Health and Safety
• Environment
• Technology and Telecommunications
• Consumer Rights and Responsibilities
  

Massachusetts LifeSmarts 2003/2004 Pre-Post Test Results

Massachusetts 2004 Participants

Congratulations to all the 2004 team participants:
The Bromfield School - 3 Teams
Hamilton-Wenham Reg. High - 1 Team
4-H Golden Hearts of E.L. - 1 Team
Golden Hearts 4-H Club - 2 Teams
Hopkinton High School - 1 Team
Medfield High School - 2 Teams
North Reading High School - 2 Teams
Palmer High School - 3 Teams
St. Mary's Jr-Sr High School - 2 Teams
Wakefield High - 1 Team