For Immediate Release:
May 10, 2010

For Further Information Contact:
Jeff Lamm, 973-504-6327

 

NEWARK – Irvington High School , representing northern New Jersey , today defeated regional champions from central and southern New Jersey to win the 2010 State Consumer Bowl Championship.

Freehold Township High School came in second and the Gloucester County Institute of Technology placed third in the Final Round. This year, a record 93 high schools participated in the 14 th annual Consumer Bowl competition.

"I want to salute all the students who participated in the Consumer Bowl competition. They will all be winners in the marketplace because they are better informed consumers and know New Jersey 's consumer protection laws and their rights," Attorney General Paula T. Dow said.

The Consumer Bowl features a game-show format to test students' knowledge of consumer issues. Topics this year included Ponzi schemes and investment fraud, the purchase and leasing of new and used vehicles, regulated businesses such as health clubs and movers, consumers' rights when making retail purchases and general knowledge of the state's consumer protection laws and regulations.

The competition began in January with intra-county competitions, followed by the county winners facing off in regional matches.

"Knowledge is power and these students are among our most powerful consumers," said Sharon Joyce, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. "Through educational and outreach efforts such as the Consumer Bowl, we strive to empower consumers to spot scams and to avoid becoming victims."

Joyce thanked the teacher/advisers who coached each team of students and the schools that participated.

The members of the Irvington High School team are:

• Shamm Petros - Co-Captain
• Eleanor Ojinnaka - Co-Captain
• Abdulai Hussein
• Cassandre Louis
• Brittany Newby
• Dwayne Reid
• Joseph Romano - Teacher/Advisor

Schools interested in competing in next year's Consumer Bowl competition may contact the Division of Consumer Affairs at 973-504-6281.

photo attached - In AG's Office,Trenton  - left to right:

1. Division of Consumer Affairs Acting Director-Sharon M. Joyce
2. Brittany Newby
3. Cassandre Louis
4. Shamm Petros-Co-Captain
5. Dwayne Reid
6. Attorney General Paula T. Dow
7. Abdulai Hussein
8. Eleanor Ojinnaka-Co-Captain
9. Executive Director of Programs for Irvington Ambassadors, Scholars and Diplomats-Catherine Sauls
10. Teacher/Advisor Joseph Romano