Academic WorldQuest: Thursday, November 8, 2007

The “Six Musketeers” team from Stanton College Preparatory School was the winner of Academic WorldQuest 2006, held  November 16 at the University of North Florida. See  photo below. 

Back: Al Alonso, Adm. Jonathan T. Howe (Pres., World Affairs Council of Jacksonville ), Jim Strickland (Sr. VP, Heritage Bank of North Florida , Event Sponsor), Will Fisher.  Front: Rojan Varghese, Yang Ge, Chris Wood, Andrew Spock.

Twenty-two teams competed from 13 area high schools (Bishop Kenny, Bolles, Episcopal, Nease, Orange Park, Paxon, Pedro Menendez, Ribault, Ridgeview, Robert E. Lee, Sandalwood, Stanton and Terry Parker High).  Each team consisted of four to six students who competed against other local high school teams to determine which team had the broadest and deepest knowledge of international issues, economics, politics, foreign policy, geography and interesting demographic facts.  The winning team from Stanton will represent our Council at the national competition held in Washington , D.C. in Spring, 2007.  A team from Stanton College Preparatory School also represented the Council in 2006.  Here is what Frank Bunton, AP/IB Teacher for Stanton and the team’s sponsor, had to say about the experience:

“WorldQuest is a simple idea creatively implemented.  The students had a blast, from the first questions around dinner tables at UNF to the national competition in Washington – the cherry blossoms in bloom, the majestic Lincoln and moving Vietnam memorials at night, making friends quickly with Team Hawaii, great food and rooms at L’Enfant Plaza, and of course the challenge and fun of competing against some of America’s best schools.  The World Affairs Council, both locally and in D.C., deserves much recognition for their organization of this premier event for high school students.”  

Academic WorldQuest is a Flagship Program of the World Affairs Council system. The game was invented by the Charlotte Council and is now widely played at the adult and high school levels around the country. It is a team game testing competitors' knowledge of international affairs, geography, history, and culture.  The World Affairs Councils of America started the national competition in Washington , DC in March 2003.  The 2006 event attracted 48 teams from all over the country. Participants come from high schools that work with the World Affairs Council network.

It is unique to the World Affairs Council system and has no direct competitor among K-12 knowledge-based competitions in the US or abroad.

Teams from area high schools test their knowledge of global affairs.  The 2007 categories for the competition are:

• Countries

• Current Events

• People in the News

• Foreign Policy Association: Great Decisions

• East Asia

• Organization of American States

• Elections

• UN Peacekeeping Operation

• International Law

The questions are challenging, yet the competition is fast-paced and fun. The winning team represents the Jacksonville Council at the national competition in Washington , D.C.   The Washington experience includes opportunities to interact with national leaders and enjoy the sights.  Past winners were teams from Nease and Stanton Preparatory.

The Council has offered the competition for three years.  In 2006 22 teams, representing 13 high schools participated.  The schools that competed were: Bishop Kenny, Bolles, Episcopal, Orange Park, Paxon, Pedro Menendez, Nease, Ribault, Ridgeview, Robert E. Lee, Sandalwood, Stanton, Terry Parker. It is expected that more schools and teams will participate in 2007.

Sponsorships range from $250 (a table sponsor for the local competition) to $3,000 (the title sponsor that supports the winning team’s trip to the national competition).  Sponsors are encouraged to attend the event. 

Sponsors will be recognized on the Council’s website, in the newsletter, press releases regarding the program.