Freehold Township HS Teens Win Regional Consumer Bowl

Students from Freehold Township High School will have a chance to reclaim its Consumer Bowl Championship crown after beating teams from six counties Thursday in regional competitions, officials said.

The Central Regional Consumer Bowl was held at the Monmouth County Fire Academy in Howell where high school teams competed a game-show format by answering questions related to consumer issues such as credit and identity theft, banking and fraud and advertising, according to a release.

Freehold Township clinched the win in the final round against Voorhees High School of Hunterdon County. The Freehold Township team was crowned New Jersey State Consumer Bowl Champions in 2011, and will have the opportunity to again take home the title during the finals in Trenton next month. 

“We are very proud of our Freehold Township team,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry. “In training for this competition all of these young adults gained considerable knowledge that will serve them well.”

Other teams competing in the regional competition were West Windsor-Plainsboro South High School (Mercer County), East Brunswick High School (Middlesex County), Monsignor Donovan High School (Ocean County), Somerville High School (Somerset County) and Governor Livingston High School (Union County).

Members of the Freehold Township High School team are team captain Samantha Fitzgerald, Samantha Sanchez, Joanne D'Avella, Bethany Mo and Michael Milo. Their adviser is Dan Cooper. 

“The Consumer Bowl was established to increase young people’s awareness of consumer issues so they will be smarter consumers when they get out of school,” said Annmarie Howley, director of the Department of Consumer Affairs. “These teens did a fantastic job.”

The New Jersey High School Consumer Bowl was established in 1997 to help students learn about consumer issues that will benefit them throughout their lives, the release says.