Litchville-Marion Students Crowned North Dakota LifeSmarts Champions

The Money Hounds team will represent the state at the National LifeSmarts Championship in Orlando.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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The Litchville-Marion High School Money Hounds team has been named the 2026 North Dakota Varsity LifeSmarts Champions after outperforming seven other teams in the state competition held at the North Dakota State Capitol. As state champions, the Money Hounds will advance to the National LifeSmarts Championship in Orlando in April.

Why it matters

LifeSmarts is a national program designed to improve financial literacy and consumer awareness among middle and high school students. The North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions administers the state LifeSmarts program as part of the state's commitment to enhancing financial education in schools.

The details

The Money Hounds team tackled real-world consumer and financial questions during the state competition, demonstrating their knowledge in personal finance, consumer rights, technology, health and safety, and the environment. Students from across North Dakota first competed online to advance to the in-person state finals.

  • The state competition was held on February 5, 2026 at the North Dakota State Capitol.
  • The Money Hounds will represent North Dakota at the National LifeSmarts Championship in Orlando on April 16-17, 2026.
  • The Litchville-Marion Money Hounds earned second place at the national competition last year.

The players

Litchville-Marion High School Money Hounds

The state champion LifeSmarts team from Litchville-Marion High School.

North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (NDDFI)

The state agency that administers the North Dakota LifeSmarts program as part of the state's commitment to improving financial literacy in schools.

Lise Kruse

The NDDFI Commissioner who praised the LifeSmarts program for helping students gain the consumer skills they'll need in the real world.

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What they’re saying

“LifeSmarts participants gain many of the consumer 'smarts' they'll need to make it in the real world.”

— Lise Kruse, NDDFI Commissioner (newsdakota.com)

What’s next

The Money Hounds will compete at the National LifeSmarts Championship in Orlando on April 16-17, 2026, where they will look to improve on their second-place finish from last year.

The takeaway

The Litchville-Marion High School Money Hounds' victory in the North Dakota LifeSmarts competition demonstrates the state's commitment to improving financial literacy and consumer awareness among students, equipping them with valuable real-world skills for the future.