Statewide Educational Competition for Students Kicks-off New Year of Competition

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ALBANY, NY (09/15/2008)(readMedia)-- (Albany, NY) - The New York Credit Union Foundation has announced the start of the 2008-2009 LifeSmarts season, with a new competition year beginning today at the program's online home at www.lifesmarts.org.

LifeSmarts is an internet-based educational competition open to all students in grades 6-12. It tests students nationwide on real-life consumer issues through online quizzes and live contests. There are two separate competition levels: the High School Competition (Varsity) and the Middle School Competition (Junior Varsity, grades 6-8). New York's competition runs from September 15, 2008 - February 6, 2009. Students and coaches can register online at www.lifesmarts.org to begin taking practice quizzes and downloading resources.

Working with an adult coach, teams/schools compete against all other teams from New York. The competition on the varsity level then progresses to a live state play-off March 24, 2009 in Albany, NY. The state winner then goes on to the National Championship, which is being held this competition season April 25-28, 2009 in St. Louis, MO.

"We're happy to continue our coordination of LifeSmarts in New York," said Diane LaVigna-Wixted, executive director of the Foundation. "By imparting knowledge of marketplace information on personal finance, consumer rights and responsibilities, health and safety, technology, and the environment, LifeSmarts is preparing our young people to become the next generation of smart consumers."

LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League. Thirty states currently participate. The Foundation coordinates the program on a volunteer basis in New York State. For more information, visit www.nycuf.org, e-mail tony.schilling@cuany.org, or call (800) 342-9835, ext. 8113.

The New York Credit Union Foundation serves credit unions, schools and community organizations that help improve the financial literacy and independence of New Yorkers and promote the credit union difference. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.nycuf.org.

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