Scoping Things Out in 'The Lou'

Early indications are that St. Louis is going to be a great host city for this year's National LifeSmarts Championship. The view from the hotel lobby alone is postcard-worthy, and beautiful Busch Stadium is visible as well. Anybody planning to take in a Cards game while they're here?

The weather is lovely, this year's goodie bags and prizes are looking pretty awesome, and the Millennium hotel staff is friendly.

So, what are you packing for your trip to the Show Me State?

Fun facts about St. Louis:

State animal: Mule
Other nicknames: Gateway to the West and Home of the Blues
State bird: Bluebird
State bug: Honey Bee
Both iced tea and waffle cones were invented at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair

Thanks, Experian!

Just days away from the 2009 National LifeSmarts Championship event kick-off in St. Louis, today the National Consumers League has announced it's received a $146,000 grant from Experian®, the global information services company. The grant will help underwrite LifeSmarts, NCL’s 15-year-old program, and it will allow NCL to forge a new partnership with Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) to bring LifeSmarts to its 220,000 student members nationwide.

Also, and this is big news for you state champion teams traveling to St. Louis to compete: for the first time this year, NCL will award each of the five students from the 2009 National LifeSmarts champion team a $1,000 academic scholarship, thanks to the grant from Experian.

Thanks, Experian! State champs can thank representatives from Experian in person in just a few days!

Happy 15th Birthday, LifeSmarts!

The 15th season of LifeSmarts is well underway! In fact, state competitions are taking place across the country, and the teams that will represent their states at the 2009 National LifeSmarts Championship in St. Louis in April are being determined!

To help celebrate the national championship and get competitors in the mood for this year's event, the National Consumers League has produced this video, thanks to support from American Express. Check it out!

Destination: St. Louis!

The countdown to the 2009 National LifeSmarts Championship has begun! Stay tuned for information about the event, hosted by the National Consumers League, which will determine the 2009 national LifeSmarts champion! In the meantime, learn more about our program here.

LifeSmarts Smile Show online!

We've posted the official 2008 National LifeSmarts Championship smile show on our site! Click here to see the awesome pdf - team photos, competition shots, and general craziness and fun!

Interview with Arizona Champs

Our friends at NextGenWeb have posted an interview with the new 2008 National LifeSmarts Champions on their site.

LifeSmarts on YouTube! We've made it to the big time!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Shhh! LifeSmarts staff is sleeping!

What a fun LifeSmarts National Championship event! Minneapolis was a fantastic host city, and we were thrilled to have 29 state champion teams travel to the Twin Cities, braving the threat of winter weather, to compete for the national title. We are so proud of all you guys and grateful to the coaches, coordinators, volunteer officials, awesome guest speakers, and our generous sponsors for making this program a success!

In the next day or two, we'll post a link to the 2008 National Champion slide show, which has some beautiful -- and sometimes hilarious -- images capturing the four days of fun at the Millennium Hotel. In the meantime, post or send us your stories and photos from nationals. We want to hear from you!

Arizona Takes the Title!

The Flagstaff Home Educators from Arizona have defeated Illinois' West Chicago Community High School in the 2008 National LifeSmarts Championship!

Introducing the 2008 National LifeSmarts Champion team:

Flagstaff Home Educators
Jennifer Bearchell, coach
Jan Robison, co-coach
Zach Schierl, captain
Reanna Toenjes
Emily Bearchell
Jake Robison
Michael Swift

Way to go, guys!

And Then There Were Two

We're just minutes away from the 2008 National LifeSmarts Championship!

It'll be Illinois vs. Arizona in the final match. Illinois, who made its way through the Winners Bracket, and Arizona, who was knocked down in a match yesterday but re-emerged late Monday.

It's gonna be a real nail-biter! Check it out here, streaming live, RIGHT NOW at NextGenWeb!

Illinois Headed to Finals!

Currently underway:

Arizona's Flagstaff Home Educators, coached by Jennifer Bearchell battling New Hampshire's Sullivan County 4-H, coached by Nancy Berry.

It's Almost Trophy Time ...

Semi-Finals Begin!

First up: Illinois vs. Virginia

Don Zabelin's team from West Chicago Community High School is up against Hilary Parr's team from Spotsylvania High School. The tension is thick in this competition ballroom. Eeek!