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Senate President Craig Blair praises the launch of the brand new Academic Showdown highschool quiz bowl competitors. (Photo by Steven Allen Adams)
CHARLESTON — A partnership between West Virginia’s lieutenant governor, public faculty leaders and better education officials hopes to reboot curiosity in highschool educational quiz bowl competitions.
Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, West Virginia Board of Education President Miller Hall, State Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch and Higher Education Policy Commission Chancellor Sarah Armstrong Tucker introduced the beginning of the brand new Academic Showdown throughout a press convention Wednesday on the state Capitol.
The inaugural Academic Showdown kicks off Jan. 15 at Marshall University with 19 groups from 29 colleges throughout West Virginia. Teams are made up of 4 college students every, starting from highschool freshmen to seniors, with an optionally available fifth member serving as an alternate.
High colleges began making ready for the match within the fall with 25 extra groups anticipated to compete for subsequent 12 months’s Academic Showdown.
“This is exciting already,” Burch mentioned. “What a venue for our high school students to come together for such a competition.”
The match was the brainchild of Blair, who pitched the thought to Burch and Tucker final 12 months. Blair needs to see college students who give attention to teachers obtain as a lot assist and adulation as student-athletes, envisioning a match the place cheerleaders and soccer crew members root for his or her quiz bowl groups.
“This is about our education, but this is about showcasing West Virginia. This is about dreaming big,” Blair mentioned. “We’ve got our best and brightest. We need to showcase them like we do student-athletes.”
Blair mentioned the Academic Showdown may also function a showcase to the nation of the potential of future highschool graduates to enterprise leaders contemplating relocating to West Virginia.
“Put this on all the TV stations. If the CEOs are coming through or people are visiting this state and they’re watching it on TV and seeing our students being displayed, that sends a tremendous message to corporate America.”
The Academic Showdown additionally will show the state’s faculties and universities with tournaments slated each Saturday via February, together with Jan. 22 at Shepherd University at Shepherdstown, Jan. 29 at West Virginia University at Morgantown, Feb. 12 at Concord University at Athens and Feb. 19 at West Virginia State University at Institute.
“We’re really excited about this inaugural event and series of events,” Tucker mentioned. “Our inaugural host universities have planned very exceptional regional events for our teams. I really can’t imagine a better way to showcase our universities and colleges to the State of West Virginia and most importantly, our high school students. We have incredible gems in this state.”
The Academic Showdown’s championship competitors will happen Friday, March 25, on the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston. The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History is a sponsor of the Academic Showdown, with the championship being aired on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Hall, a former faculty principal, hopes colleges and communities will rally round their Academic Showdown quiz groups and encourage extra involvement within the coming years.
“It’s like a team concept,” Hall mentioned. “It’s trying to help one another to get where they need to go. Some are in the athletic arena; some are in the academic arena. But when they all come together, they play an important role. The stronger the community, the stronger the schools. The stronger the schools, the stronger the community. They’ll have ownership and buy-in and they’ll feel better about their schools.”
Steven Allen Adams may be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com.
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