– Provided photo
HAMILTON, N.J. -– Students from seven Mercer County high schools will compete in the 22nd annual NJ High School Consumer Bowl at 9 a.m., Thursday at the Stone Terrace in Hamilton.
Last year, Hightstown High School was the champion, defeating other Mercer County high schools, and then competing for the Regionals against high schools from Hunterdon, Middlesex, Ocean, Monmouth, Somerset and Union counties.
Each year, the Consumer Bowl tests students’ knowledge of state’s consumer protection laws and regulations. The competition features a game-show format where teams buzz in to answer questions posed by a moderator from the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
“This event, and the preparation that goes into it, is a great opportunity for students to gain knowledge they can use to become smarter consumers,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “Education is your best defense against consumer fraud.”
This year’s game-show style event will boast a diverse line up of moderators, referees, judges, scorekeepers and timekeeper.
Those moderating include: Anthony Brennan, New Jersey Consumer Affairs investigator, and Melanie Hazim, NJ Consumer Affairs outreach director. Referee will be Mercer County Consumer Affairs Chief, John Worth. The plan for judges will be Andrew Tucker, special assistant to the director of NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello, County Surrogate Diane Gerofsky, Assistant Prosecutor Rachel Cook, Undersheriff Jason Salvatore, County Planning Director Leslie Floyd, and Assistant County Counsel John Maloney. Rebecca Shaw, Mercer County Weights and Measures inspector; and Dulcelina Pena, NJ Division of Consumer Affairs Consumer Bowl coordinator will keep scores. And, timekeeper will be David Donahue, NJ Division of Consumer Affairs Building Services coordinator.
The Mercer County Division of Consumer Affairs holds the event in conjunction with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
The Mercer County office handles complaints from individual consumers against local businesses. It protects Mercer County residents from fraudulent and unconscionable business practices. It also provides free consumer counseling and complaint resolution services to Mercer County residents.
The Division of Consumer Affairs can be reached at (609) 989-6671.