It’s only appropriate that the Selah High School Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) LifeSmarts Knowledge Bowl Team was competing in the national contest in the Mile-High City.  After all, in claiming the national title, where else do you go to demonstrate the heights of your knowledge?

Congratulations to the Viking quintet of incoming seniors Hannah Christiansen, Indiana Hilmes, Macie Ladd, and Hannah Rees, along with recent graduate Natalie Keller, who comprised Selah’s LifeSmarts Team which captured the top prize in July in Denver, Colorado, during the National FCCLA Conference.  The squad qualified for the national event earlier in the year by placing in the top 16 at a separate qualifying competition held in Columbus, Ohio. 

On their march to the national championship match, the five-lady team out-maneuvered the competition field by reaching the final round after winning five consecutive qualifying rounds.  Once in the championship round, the team competed on the FCCLA stage in front of 8,000 conference attendees. 

The Knowledge Bowl Event is a competition that teaches consumer literacy skills needed to succeed in today’s marketplace. LifeSmarts challenges participants in Personal Finance, Consumer Rights, Technology, Health and Safety, and the Environment.  During the Knowledge Bowl contest format, competitors aim to accumulate points against other teams in a trivia type of competition reminiscent of the game show Jeopardy.  To prepare for the national event, the team met every Monday morning before school to study topic areas and be quizzed on random questions. 

Also competing at the National FCCLA Conference with individualized or team projects were Selah Middle School and Selah High School students, who also received recognition and medals.  We will communicate these achievements once we learn more about their outstanding efforts. 

Selah High School FCCLA is advised by Shari Brink and Maggie Uceny and the middle school chapter is led by Heather Fendell.