Irmo High School to Represent South Carolina in National LifeSmarts Championship

SC Consumer Affairs News

Published March 27th, 2026

Detected March 27th, 2026

Summary

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs announced that Irmo High School will represent the state at the National LifeSmarts Championship in Orlando, Florida, from April 15-18, 2026. The department is also encouraging interested organizations to form teams for the 2026-2027 season.

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What changed

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has announced that Irmo High School has qualified for the National LifeSmarts Championship for the third consecutive year. The team won the state competition and will compete in Orlando, Florida, from April 15-18, 2026. The DCA also serves as the coordinator for the LifeSmarts program in South Carolina and is soliciting interest from educational institutions and community organizations for the upcoming 2026-2027 season.

While this announcement is primarily informational regarding a youth competition, it highlights the DCA's role in promoting consumer education. Compliance officers should note the DCA's ongoing efforts to foster informed consumers and may wish to monitor their broader consumer protection initiatives. The announcement also includes a call for community support for the Irmo High School team's travel expenses.

What to do next

Encourage participation in the 2026-2027 LifeSmarts season for interested classrooms, clubs, and community organizations.

Source document (simplified)

Fri, 03/27/2026 COLUMBIA, S.C. – For the third year in a row, Irmo High School earned an invitation to the National LifeSmarts Championship. The team received a Wildcard bid in 2024 and won this year’s and last year’s state competitions. LifeSmarts is an interactive program designed to help teens develop the core skills needed to navigate the marketplace while testing their knowledge in a quiz bowl format. During the state competition, the team answered questions about real-life marketplace issues in five topics: technology, health and safety, consumer rights, the environment and personal finance.

Irmo High School’s captain, Major Taylor, is looking forward to his team’s return to the national championship. “I’m excited to compete with the added experience I have from last year,” Taylor said. “I feel like we’ve built a great team, and we have a really good chance of succeeding.”

The National LifeSmarts Championship will be held in Orlando, Florida from April 15-18, 2026. Teams from across the country will compete for the championship title, scholarships and prizes.

As Irmo prepares for the national competition, the team is asking the community for support in covering travel, accommodation, and other expenses. Donations will help these committed students represent South Carolina. Checks can be sent to Irmo High School (6671 St. Andrews Road, Columbia SC 29212). Please include LifeSmarts in the reference line. Any donation questions can be directed to Tari Watson at twatson@lexrich5.org.

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) coordinates the program in the Palmetto State. Classrooms, clubs and community organizations interested in starting a team for the 2026-2027 season are encouraged to join. For more information, visit the SCDCA website or contact Ayah Favors at (803)734-0043.

About SCDCA

Established in 1974, DCA has more than fifty years of experience in protecting South Carolina consumers while recognizing those businesses that act honestly and fairly. Cultivating a marketplace comprised of well-informed consumers and businesses prevents deceptive and unfair business practices, allows legitimate business activity to flourish, resulting in the promotion of competition and a healthier economy.