Students from six area community colleges flexed their encyclopedic muscles during the Academic Excellence Challenge Saturday at Allen Community College.
Clarie Moran, Iola, said she joined the ACC team because of similar competitions as a student at Iola High School. Leah Hiebert, Wilsey, said fellow volleyball teammates convinced her to give it a try. She in turn recruited volleyball team member Adanna York, Edmond, Okla.
Instructors from the participating schools devise the questions, which are to cover subject matter up to a second- year college level. The categories include history, physics, math and geometry. Moran said paying attention in class and watching two episodes of “Jeopardy” daily help prepare her for the competitions.
When that is not enough, “you wing it,” Moran said.
There is more to the competition than just having a sharp mind. Good reflexes are an asset as well.
“Some rounds we got blown out, if we were quicker to the buzzer we could have done better,” Moran said.
The competitions test a student’s critical thinking skills as well as their ability to remember facts and figures. The level of difficulty is unpredictable.
“It really depends on the packet (of questions) because there are packets where everyone knows all the answers, and there are rounds where no one knows anything,” Hiebert said.
Cowley and Coffeyville colleges finished with 5-0 records. Allen’s team finished in second place, defeating Fort Scott, Neosho and Cowley. On an individual basis, Moran was the top scorer.
Scholarships cover the cost of books and tuition are available for incoming and interested students. Students can contact Todd Francis, the AEC sponsor at Allen, for more information.
Allen students put their knowledge to the test
