|
NCCC LifeSmarts team wins states, head to nationals in Miami |
|
|
Friday, 19 March 2010 |
|
North Country Career Center LifeSmarts team members quizzed the high school board Tuesday night. From left are Zachary Pion, Matthew Green, Angela Fuller, Angela Squillante-Evans, and Hunter Covill. (Photo by Nancy McDermott) By JENNIFER HERSEY CLEVELAND
Express Staff Writer
NEWPORT — The North Country Career Center's LifeSmarts team, the Iron Chefs of Biz, had the pleasure of informing the North Country Union High School Board Tuesday of their first-place win at the state competition in February in Montpelier.
Team captain Zachary Pion said that LifeSmarts is the "ultimate consumer challenge." Pion said it was a close call for the team, which fell in the first round. Fortunately, there was a wild card round for the "so-called losers," Pion joked.
Business teacher Nancy McDermott said it is a game-show type competition. Team members said that contestants are quizzed in the areas of personal finance, health and safety, the environment, technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities.
The Iron Chefs of Biz will be the first team to ever represent Vermont at the national competition, held this year in Miami, Florida, from April 24 to 27. Even better, they told the board, the trip is almost completely funded by the Vermont JumpStart Coalition for Personal Finance Literacy.
North Country Supervisory Union Superintendent Robert Kern said that the approximately $1,000 that is not covered will be funded by a Community National Bank donation and a career center budget intended for student competitions. Green Mountain United Way donated T-shirts.
The students surprised board members with a pop quiz. Once two answers were eliminated, board members were easily able to surmise that the answer to the first question was that online sellers are not required to give refunds to customers who change their minds.
Teacher Jean Maxwell knew that the Coast Guard must approve all proper life jackets, and she was downright gleeful about her prize — a new pencil.
No one knew the answer to "What is the most common food-borne pathogen?" (It's campylobacter.) But most raised their hands to say that endorphins cause the brain to feel pleasure.
Some questions are easier than others, and to demonstrate, the students asked, "Why shouldn't you mow a lawn in bare feet?"
Board member David Ghelli of Newport Town shook his hand wildly in a "pick me, pick me" kind of way and said proudly, "It's really hard to wash you feet after."
But seriously, the students said, it's because you might cut off your toes. |
|
Last Updated ( Monday, 22 March 2010 )
|
