West Virginia Launching New High School ‘Academic Showdown’ Quiz Bowl
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CHARLESTON -- A partnership between West Virginia's lieutenant governor, public school leaders and higher education officials hopes to reboot interest in high school academic 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 announced the start of the new Academic Showdown during a press conference Wednesday at the state Capitol.
The inaugural Academic Showdown kicks off Jan. 15 at Marshall University with 19 teams from 29 schools across West Virginia. Teams are made up of four students each, ranging from high school freshmen to seniors, with an optional fifth member serving as an alternate.
High schools started preparing for the tournament in the fall with 25 more teams expected to compete for next year's Academic Showdown.
"This is exciting already," Burch said. "What a venue for our high school students to come together for such a competition."
The tournament was the brainchild of Blair, who pitched the idea to Burch and Tucker last year. Blair wants to see students who focus on academics receive as much support and adulation as student-athletes, envisioning a tournament where cheerleaders and football team members root for their quiz bowl teams.
"This is about our education, but this is about showcasing West Virginia. This is about dreaming big," Blair said. "We've got our best and brightest. We need to showcase them like we do student-athletes."
Blair said the Academic Showdown can also serve as a showcase to the nation of the potential of future high school graduates to business leaders considering relocating to West Virginia.
"Put this on all the TV stations," he said. "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 also will display the state's colleges and universities with tournaments slated every Saturday through February, including 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 said. "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 competition will take place Friday, March 25, at 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 school principal, hopes schools and communities will rally around their Academic Showdown quiz teams and inspire more involvement in the coming years.