NEWARK – Cedar Creek High School in Atlantic County won the 22nd annual New Jersey High School Consumer Bowl today, besting Middlesex County Academy and Irvington High School in a runaway victory in the school’s first appearance in the finals of the annual quiz-style competition designed to teach young adults about consumer protection.

“The winning team from Cedar Creek High School and the finalists from Middlesex County Academy and Irvington High School have proven themselves to be among the savviest consumers in New Jersey. They have a keen understanding of their rights in the marketplace and know how to exercise them,” said Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal. “The knowledge these students gained as participants in Consumer Bowl 2018 will serve them well in the years ahead as their role as consumers grows.”

The Consumer Bowl competition, organized each year by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs in coordination with high schools across the state, uses a game-show format to test students’ knowledge on topics such as investment fraud, the purchase and leasing of new and used vehicles, consumers’ rights when making retail purchases, and general knowledge of the State’s consumer protection laws and regulations.

“The Division of Consumer Affairs fights hard for consumers and works every day to protect them from fraud and deception in the marketplace, but the best defense is an informed consumer,” said Kevin Jespersen, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “Through education and outreach efforts like the Consumer Bowl, we strive to empower consumers to know their rights, recognize fraud, and protect themselves from scams.”

A total of 75 teams representing 20 counties entered Consumer Bowl 2018, which began with intra-county competitions in January, followed by the county winners facing off in regional matches.

In today’s final match, held in the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton,
Cedar Creek High School represented Southern New Jersey, Middlesex County Academy in Middlesex County represented Central New Jersey, and Irvington High School in Essex County represented Northern New Jersey.

The three-round championship event consisted of individual questions, team questions, and a final “lighting round.”

This year’s teams fielded questions on topics that included junkyard ID theft, credit card shimming, playing it safe on the internet, and tips for avoiding scams while planning a wedding.

Cedar Creek High School grabbed the lead early and never let go, racking up an impressive 105 points en route to victory. Middlesex County Academy, also making its first appearance in a Consumer Bowl final showdown, came in second place with 60 points, and Irvington High School came in third with 50 points.

The following students represented Cedar Creek High School in today’s final competition:

John Gazo was the team’s Teacher/Advisor

The following students represented Middlesex County Academy in today’s final competition:

Isabel DaSilva-Caton was the team’s Teacher/Advisor

The following students represented Irvington High School in today’s final competition:

Joe Romano was the team’s Teacher/Advisor

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