A team of students from Manalapan High School won the 2019 Monmouth County Consumer Bowl, a game-show-style competition for high school students that was held on Feb. 6 at the Monmouth County Fire Academy, Howell.
Students from eight high schools answered consumer-related questions in a multiple choice and open-ended format to test their knowledge of consumer issues, such as Internet fraud and buying and leasing automobiles, according to a press release from the county.
In the final round, students from Manalapan High School and Marlboro High School faced off. Though the scores were close, Manalapan was victorious and won the 2019 Consumer Bowl.
The Manalapan team members are Stephen Aron, Ryan Sikora, Kayla Lemma (team captain), Jessica Deans and Frank Daddato. The teacher and adviser is Adam Falk.
Students from Colts Neck High School, Freehold High School, Freehold Township High School, Howell High School, Manalapan High School, Marlboro High School, Raritan High School and Saint John Vianney High School participated in the Consumer Bowl.
“Through the annual Consumer Bowl, the young adults who participated realized what it truly takes for them to be smart consumers and possibly future consumer advocates,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Division of Consumer Affairs.
“This friendly county competition between high schools highlights the county’s Consumer Affairs office and the way it enforces consumer laws to help people who suspect they might be victims of unscrupulous business practices,” Burry said.
The Manalapan students have advanced to the regional competition on April 10, also at the Monmouth County Fire Academy. The regional winner will compete in the 2019 New Jersey State Consumer Bowl scheduled for May in Trenton, according to the press release.
The New Jersey High School Consumer Bowl is a program of the state Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs. It was established in 1997 to help students learn about consumer issues that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Consumer Affairs is a law enforcement agency, created and funded by the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders. It protects against consumer fraud and dishonest business practices by enforcing the state Consumer Fraud Act and other regulations, according to the press release.
Additional information about fraud and other consumer affairs programs may be found at www.VisitMonmouth.com, by calling 732-431-7900 or emailing [email protected]