LifeSmarts program awards scholarships to student leaders from Ellenboro, W.V., Tuscaloosa, Ala., Jefferson City, Mo., and Fredericksburg, Va.
February 26, 2019
Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org, (412) 945-3242 or Taun Sterling, tauns@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832
Washington, DC—Today the National Consumers League (NCL) has announced five scholarship recipients, honored for their involvement in a community service and leadership initiative made possible through its consumer literacy program, LifeSmarts (LifeSmarts.org). The students were awarded $1,000 academic scholarships for their winning entries based on their experiences serving as Safety Smart® Ambassadors, a partnership between LifeSmarts and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) that pairs high school students with elementary classrooms to teach lessons about health, safety, and the environment.
The scholarship winners are:
- Logan Hostuttler,Ritchie County High School, Ellenboro, W.V. (11th grade)
- AylaraOlcmen, Central High School Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Ala. (11th grade)
- Rebecca Peters, Massaponax High School, Fredericksburg, Va. (12th grade)
- Annette Peterson, Blair Oaks High School, Jefferson City, Mo. (12th grade)
- Dakota Wayne, Ritchie County High School, Ellenboro, W.V. (10th grade)
Since 2013, when the LifeSmarts UL partnership began, more than 350 LifeSmarts students have become Safety Smart Ambassadors. Working in teams, high school students have made more than 1,500 interactive 30-minute presentations sharing empowering and educational safety messages with thousands of younger children throughout their communities. LifeSmarts is a national program that competitively tests high school students’ knowledge of consumer awareness, with subjects including personal finance, health and safety, consumer rights and responsibility, technology, and the environment. This year, LifeSmarts is celebrating its 25th anniversary season.
“We are so proud of our students who participated in the Safety Smart Ambassador program and the positive impact they made on their communities, and especially these five stand-outs,” said Lisa Hertzberg, LifeSmarts program director. “We truly appreciate this partnership with UL. It has been extremely gratifying to see LifeSmarts students embrace the Safety Smart Ambassador program, provide education and mentoring to younger children, and learn about themselves in the process.”
“As part of our overall mission to create a safer world, UL has long been committed to increasing scientific literacy, discovery and student empowerment,” said Cara Gizzi, vice president, education and outreach for UL. This collaboration with LifeSmarts continues to strengthen our decades-long relationship with NCL and, work for positive change in the world while empowering the next generation of Safety Smart Ambassadors.”
The LifeSmarts and UL partnership has underwritten the Safety Smart Ambassador program and provided LifeSmarts with access to the vast knowledge base of UL’s educational programs, including resources for LifeSmarts to bolster its science and environment curriculum, resources, and competitive opportunities.
For more information, please visit LifeSmarts.org/SafetySmart.
Winter 2019 Safety Smart Ambassador award winners – in their own words
“I think it is very important to teach our youth of the hidden dangers on the internet and teach them ways of how to keep themselves safe. This presentation was a great opportunity for both the presenter and the students attending to learn many new and exciting lessons on online safety.” – Hostuttler
“I have taught with the Safety Smart program for two years. This year was a complete turn-around for me. I was interacting with the kids more, I scarcely held the script in my hand, I felt more confident, and lastly I really enjoyed myself.” – Olcmen
“Being able to explore a different part of my local community that I otherwise may not have been bold enough to approach has changed my perspective.” – Peters
“I have gained so much confidence, giving me the ability to talk in front of people and do so much more today. If I hadn’t been a part of this program and presented in front of these kids, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today.” – Peterson
“I accomplished my goal of getting all the students involved and interacting. I had a great time spending time with these kids and I believe that they really enjoyed us being there to teach them.” – Wayne
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About LifeSmarts and the National Consumers League
LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League. State coordinators run the programs on a volunteer basis. LifeSmarts educational resources are available online throughout the year at LifeSmarts.org. Competition begins again in September. For more information, visit: LifeSmarts.org.
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit nclnet.org.
About UL
UL fosters safe living and working conditions for people everywhere through the application of science to solve safety, security and sustainability challenges. Our nonprofit parent organization engages in standards development, scientific research, education and public outreach activities. Our commercial businesses test, inspect, audit, certify, validate, verify, advise and train and we support these efforts with software solutions for safety and sustainability. The UL Mark engenders trust, enabling the safe adoption of innovative new products and technologies. Everyone at UL shares a passion for making the world a safer place. To learn more about the work of our education and outreach group, visit Education.UL.org. To learn more about our business solutions, visit UL.com.
