Congratulations to Cheney High School students, who clung to pole position for two days during the national LifeSmarts championship before ultimately taking eighth place out of 33 teams. The competition tests students' wits about finances, technology, health, government and the environment.

The Cheney team included Jacob Mager, Nash Springberry, James Berchers, David Leong and Solomon Springberry. They were coached by teacher Karyln Urdahl and mentored by Wency Offril of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. The savvy bunch competed last week in Hollywood, where they won a trophy, gift cards and chocolate.