Maryland Students Win National LifeSmarts Competition In Philadelphia
By John Ostapkovich
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Four Maryland high school students were all-smiles on Tuesday, after winning the 2012 National LifeSmarts Championship, which was held in Philadelphia this year.
Maryland won the final over Florida by a crushing 234 to 121, but Robert Dickens of Frederick, Maryland, a two-time champ in his high school career, said it was probably just better buzzing in to answer, not basic knowledge.
"To go to nationals, you will learn a great deal of stuff you'll use for the rest of your life," said Dickens. "The personal finance area is stuff that almost all teenagers know little to nothing about."
The LifeSmarts Championship was sponsored by the National Consumers League. Executive director Sally Greenberg feels the students really benefit from this competition.
"How to look at national and international investments, what's the pro's and cons of a CD versus a stock versus a savings account," said Greenberg. "Really basic stuff that every young person coming into the world should know."
And the contest gives them motivation to know best.
