For Immediate Release:
February 7, 2019

Manalapan High School wins County Consumer Bowl
Manalapan will move on to regional competition

HOWELL, NJ – Manalapan High School finished victorious in the 2019 Monmouth County Consumer Bowl, a game-show-style competition for teams of high school students held Feb. 6 at the Monmouth County Fire Academy.

Students from eight high schools answered consumer-related questions in a multiple choice and open-ended format to test their knowledge of consumer issues, such as Internet fraud and buying and leasing automobiles.

In the final round, Manalapan High School and Marlboro High School faced off. Though the scores were close, the Manalapan team was victorious and won the 2019 County Consumer Bowl.

Team members include Stephen Aron, Ryan Sikora, Kayla Lemma (team captain), Jessica Deans and Frank Daddato. Their teacher and advisor is Adam Falk.

In all, students from Colts Neck High School, Freehold High School, Freehold Township High School, Howell High School, Manalapan High School, Marlboro High School, Raritan High School and Saint John Vianney High School participated in the competition.

“Through the annual Consumer Bowl, the young adults who participated realized what it truly takes for them to be smart consumers and possibly future consumer advocates,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Division of Consumer Affairs. “This friendly, county competition between high schools highlights the County’s Consumer Affairs office and the way they enforce consumer laws to help people who suspect they might be victims of unscrupulous business practices.”

The Manalapan High School team now moves on to the regional competition on April 10 with home field advantage because the competition will be held at the Monmouth County Fire Academy. The winner of the regional competition will go on to compete in the 2019 New Jersey State Consumer Bowl scheduled for May in Trenton.

The New Jersey High School Consumer Bowl is a program of the state Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs. It was established in 1997 to help students learn about consumer issues that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Consumer Affairs is a law enforcement agency, created and funded by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. It protects against consumer fraud and dishonest business practices by enforcing the state Consumer Fraud Act and many other regulations.

Additional information about fraud and other consumer affairs programs can be found on the County website at www.VisitMonmouth.com, by calling 732-431-7900 or emailing ConsumerAffairs@co.monmouth.nj.us. The office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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