Pemberton HS Steps Toward Win

Pemberton High School took its first step toward winning an unprecedented third straight New Jersey Consumer Bowl championship in January by prevailing in the Burlington County level of the competition, 125-60, against Florence in the final.

“The questions seem to be more difficult and more encompassing each year,’’ Freeholder Dawn Marie Addiego said after serving as referee for the competition. “But our students seem to be more aware of the issues out there that are facing consumers.’’

“Pemberton again rose to the challenge,’’ she continued. “All our students did extremely well and they should be proud of their efforts.’’

The game-like competition that tests students’ knowledge of consumer, and weights and measures issues, was held at the County Human Services Facility in Westampton.

The first round involved one question for each of the four members of each team. The second round involved questions that could be answered by anyone on a team. And the third round was a lightning round in which any student could buzz in and answer.

Pemberton outscored Florence 80-30 in the lightning round to break open what had been a tight contest. The teams were tied 10-10 after the first round and Pemberton had a slim 15-point lead entering the third and final round.

Captain Dave Warren and senior Faiz Ali were particularly strong for the Hornets in the lightning round. Michelle McBride, Justin McCartney and alternate Phillippe Baburam rounded out advisor Karin Guns’ winning team.

Pemberton used a 50-point victory over nemesis Riverside, 120-70, in the opening round to advance to the final.

Florence scored 70 points to defeat Lenape (55) and Burlington County Institute of Technology/Westampton (30) in the opening round to advance to the final.

Pemberton has earned the right to appear in the South Jersey regional competition on March 22nd at a site to be determined. The state finals are scheduled for the week of May 17th.

The January competition was the beginning of the 9th Annual Consumer Bowl, sponsored by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. It is the sixth consecutive year that Burlington County has been a participant.

Pemberton now has won four straight County Consumer Bowls, and five out of the six that have been held. Lenape won in 2001. Pemberton was state champion in 2000, 2003 and 2004.

Officials for the competition included Addiego as referee; judges - Burlington County Superintendent of Schools Education Specialist Debrah Magee; KYW3-TV Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan and County Veterans Services Officer and a member of the New Jersey School Board of Education Sam Podietz; and scorekeepers Burlington County Dean of Institutional Advancement Rich Pokrass and Educational Information and Resources Center assistant director Sandra Loewe.

From the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs were moderator Mary Lou Bush and timekeeper Bill Carter.

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Author: Press Release-Burlington County