JUNCTION CITY, Kan.&nbsp;- Five Junction City High School students have qualified as a META Wildcard Team for the 2026 National LifeSmarts Championship in Orlando, Fla.The Blue Jays FCCLA team, which consists of Mateo Fuentes,&nbsp;Kai Walsh, Brittney Dibben, Aubrey Goddard and Keileigh Johnston, advanced to nationals after presenting on potential solutions to the ever-growing plastic pollution in the environment, which was titled, Beyond Recycling.

“This team was very determined to qualify to nationals. They are a very dedicated team, who are very much self-starters, so I’m incredibly proud to be one of only ten selected for a META Wildcard spot, nationwide, and represent Junction City High School and the state of Kansas,” said Joanna Erichsen, JCHS FCCLA coach.

The group will now travel to Orlando the week of April 15-18 to compete against 48 other teams, nationally, for the right to be crowned the 2026 LifeSmarts National Championship. LifeSmarts, a consumer education and life skills competition, challenges teens about personal finance, health &amp; safety, the environment, technology &amp; workforce preparation, as well as consumer rights and responsibilities, is a program of the National Consumers League.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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 </figure>By Matt HooverUSD 475 Communications CoordinatorJUNCTION CITY, Kan.&nbsp;- Five Junction City High School students have qualified as a META Wildcard Team for the 2026 National LifeSmarts Championship in Orlando, Fla.The Blue Jays FCCLA team, which consists of Mateo Fuentes,&nbsp;Kai Walsh, Brittney Dibben, Aubrey Goddard and Keileigh Johnston, advanced to nationals after presenting on potential solutions to the ever-growing plastic pollution in the environment, which was titled, Beyond Recycling.“This team was very determined to qualify to nationals. They are a very dedicated team, who are very much self-starters, so I’m incredibly proud to be one of only ten selected for a META Wildcard spot, nationwide, and represent Junction City High School and the state of Kansas,” said Joanna Erichsen, JCHS FCCLA coach.The group will now travel to Orlando the week of April 15-18 to compete against 48 other teams, nationally, for the right to be crowned the 2026 LifeSmarts National Championship. LifeSmarts, a consumer education and life skills competition, challenges teens about personal finance, health &amp; safety, the environment, technology &amp; workforce preparation, as well as consumer rights and responsibilities, is a program of the National Consumers League.&nbsp;&nbsp;

JCHS FCCLA Qualifies for Nationals