SHOUT OUT: Ridgefield Park High School returns tomorrow to defend its Bergen County High School Consumer Bowl title, taking on seven other teams from throughout the county in the competition organized by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
The field:
· Fort Lee High School
· Hackensack High School (last year’s 3rd-place Bergen winner)
· Immaculate Conception High School (Lodi)
· Leonia High School
· Lodi High School
· Lyndhurst High School (last year’s 2rd-place Bergen winner)
· Ridgefield Park High School
· Rutherford High School
Created in 1997, the Consumer Bowl features a game-show format to test students’ knowledge of consumer rights and issues.
This year’s competition will include a special focus on the many scams consumers may face in the wake of Hurricane Sandy — from sketchy home-repair contractors to bogus charities.
Other topics include:
- Ponzi schemes and investment fraud;
- buying and leasing new and used vehicles;
- regulated businesses, such as health clubs;
- consumer rights in retail;
- gas-price gouging.
The youngsters will also be quizzed on the responsibilities of regulatory boards, such as those of Cosmetology, Medical Examiners, and Pharmacy, along with weights and measures issues and general knowledge of New Jersey’s consumer protection laws and regulations.
Tomorrow’s winner will represent Bergen County during the April 16 Consumer Bowl Northern Regional match.
The three winning teams from the Northern, Central, and Southern regional competitions then face off in the 17th annual New Jersey High School Consumer Bowl final competition on May 23.
WHEN: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. tomorrow, Thurs., March 22 (Inclement weather date: Monday, March 25)
WHERE: Bergen County Administration Building, Fifth Floor, Hackensack
MORE INFO: njconsumeraffairs.gov/highschoolconsumerbowl/
