News Releases
S-VE Panthers Win Kwasnoski Cup
By Dennis Lantz
CQ Services
Sun, 03 Apr 2005
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| The 2005 Scholarship Challenge Kwasnoski Cup winners from Spencer VanEtten High School are, from left: Anne Blauvelt, advisor Daniel Hundycz, Sarah Harrison, Chris Powers, Melody King and Jordan Carr. (CQ Photo/ Dennis Lantz) |
With a crowd of public dignitaries, families and friends from all the schools watching, the Spencer VanEtten Panthers defeated the Northeast Bradford Panthers to win. The victory not only earned them the right to hold the Kwasnoski Cup for the year… it also made the school $2,000 richer.
The celebration for the silver anniversary of Scholarship Challenge was the theme of the day. A special reception was held afterward to praise the people who have made the award-winning show a success.
When Chuck Carver, general manager of Choice Radio and founder of the Scholarship Challenge first proposed the idea of a high school quiz show, it was met with rejection. That was in 1978. It wasn’t until three years later that the first Scholarship Challenge took place.
The five-week contest is now sponsored by First Citizen’s National Bank. Terry Osborne, Executive Vice President of the bank had this to say about the contestants, “I’m really impressed with all of them. They did very well. The young people showed not only a lot of knowledge, but also a lot of poise.”
The Panther team from Spencer VanEtten is made up of captain Anne Blauvelt, Sarah Harrison, Chris Powers, Melody King and Jordan Carr. Carr sat out as the alternate in their opening win over Notre Dame and replaced Melody King in the finals against Northeast Bradford.
Team advisor Daniel Hundycz said, “It was a really exciting competition… exciting to watch and fun to be a part of.”
He noted that Spencer VanEtten and Northeast Bradford were two of the smaller schools in this year’s competition and it was nice to see how well they did defeating the larger schools.
Captain Anne Blauvelt explained that even though this was the school’s second time in the final four, the fact that the Panthers had never won the Kwasnoski Cup didn’t register until late in the competition.
“We just realized that we’d never won it before,” she said.
Teammate Sarah Harrison said, “It was a good way to end our quiz team career… by going out with a bang.”
Four teams from Montrose, Spencer VanEtten, Northeast Bradford and Notre Dame had earned berths in the finals. The Meteors were the first to qualify back on Jan. 29. They were followed by the Panthers of Spencer VanEtten on Feb. 12, the Panthers of Northeast Bradford on Feb. 26 and the Crusaders on March 12.
The first match of the day was to determine the Pennsylvania school in the finals. The Panthers of Northeast Bradford faced off against the Montrose Meteors.
Northeast sent out captain Bradley O’Connor, Devon Babcock, Ramy Ragab and Alyssa Kramer. The alternates for the Panthers, coached on this day by the junior high quiz team advisor Sally Foote, were Leanne Hennip, Jake Druck and Steven Hakes II.
The Meteor team consisted of captain James Cain, Shane Jones, Gina Cherundolo and John Watts. Alternates were Sean Jones and Sheryl Stevens. Eileen Baessler coaches the team.
At the box office in 2004, what Pixar produced film featured a family of super heroes?
Ramy Ragab of Northeast Bradford answered “The Incredibles” and the finals began with Northeast in the lead.
Each emperor from this nation in Northeast Africa is said to be descended from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba… what country is this? The answer is Ethiopia.
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Round two featured back and forth action and several lead changes occurred.
What U.S. Olympic team outscored their opponents in Athens by a total score of 55 to 1? The answer is the women’s softball team.
Hillary Duff updated what fairy tale to the silver screen? The answer is Cinderella.
At the end of the second round, the Panthers held a 60 to 40 lead. Everything was hinging on who could succeed in the third round, where correct answers are worth 20 points instead of 10.
Japan and the U.S. will start providing alerts for what kind of natural weather phenomenon in the Pacific and Southeast Asia? The answer is tsunami.
Who invented the double convex microscope in 1611 and published the laws of planetary motion? The answer is Johannes Kepler.
With one question to go, the two teams were tied at 100. The final question would determine whether they moved on for at least $1,000 and a chance at winning the Kwasnoski Cup or go home with $500.
What three-letter word means the mixture made from clay, silt and water? The answer is mud. Northeast answered it correctly and moved on to face the winner of the Spencer VanEtten – Notre Dame match.
For the match to determine the school to represent New York State in the finals, the Crusaders sent out captain Jesse Scott, Henry Dalrymple, Logan Dolph and Sean Hitchcock. Alternate for the team was Riane Corter. Carol Morrell coaches Notre Dame.
What is the popular query for the Verizon commercials” The answer is ‘Can You Hear Me Now?’
What government department oversees school lunches, meat and poultry standards and the food stamp program? The answer is The Department of Agriculture.
The teams were knotted at 30 at the end of the first round.
What cable satellite station is headquartered in Bristol, Connecticut? The answer is ESPN.
What U.S. capital is closest to the equator? The answer is Honolulu.
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| The Panthers of Northeast Bradford took second place at the Scholarship Challenge, falling in their final match with the champions from Spencer VanEtten. From left are Bradley O'Connor, Devon Babcock, Ramy Ragab and Alyssa Kramer. (CQ Photo) |
Raphael’s ‘School of Athens’ is a good example of High Renaissance Italian art… what medium is it? The answer is fresco.
Brazil and Columbia grow half of the world’s supply of what product? The answer is coffee.
The Panthers pulled away at the end, going on for a 140 to 80 victory and earning a match with Northeast Bradford in the finals.
The final contest of the 25th annual Scholarship Challenge was between schools with Panthers as their mascot. The quiz teams from the high schools of Spencer VanEtten and Northeast Bradford were in unfamiliar territory, but no one doubted their right to be on the stage.
If a guy with a job throwing unruly people out of bars wrote a bad check, what is he in two separate ways? The answer is bouncer.
He said, “I’d rather be right than president.” Who was this southern political icon known as the Great Compromiser? The answer is Henry Clay.
The Northeast Bradford team dug themselves into a hole early in this round as they tried to answer before the questions were completely read. Sometimes the gamble worked; sometimes it didn’t. Spencer VanEtten held a 30 to minus-20 lead at the end of the first round.
What do economists call it when the value of a nation’s imports exceeds the value of its exports? The answer is a trade deficit.
Bearing the same name as an Old Testament judge, what family placed Bibles in hotels? The answer is Gideons.
Spencer VanEtten held a 40 to 10 advantage at the end of twenty questions as the Northeast squad crept closer.
What are the states with capitals named after U.S. presidents? The answers are Nebraska (Lincoln), Missouri (Jefferson City), Wisconsin (Madison) & Mississippi (Jackson).
Whose death came weeks after the Supreme Court refused intervention? The answer is Terri Schiavo.
The Spencer VanEtten team pulled away and won by a final score of 120 to 20.
Government officials on hand for the contest and for the celebration to honor the 25th anniversary included Donald Leonard, regional representative from New York Governor George Pataki’s Office of Regional Affairs; Sheldon Winnick, from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and representing Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell; Don Sherwood, U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania District 10; State Representative Tina Pickett (R-Bradford, Sullivan & Susquehanna); Bradford County commissioner Nancy Schrader and Valley District Justice Mike Shaw.
“The young people are so inspiring to me,” said Tina Pickett. “I love to see it in person so I can see the excitement and the looks on their faces.”
“The passion of Chuck and Michele make it exciting and interesting,” she added as she presented Carver with a citation of appreciation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Leonard told the audience that he was happy that his hometown school won and called Carver an asset to the community.
“I’m not one to reflect or dwell on the past, but this was a big deal,” Carver said. “It meant a lot listening to what has been said.”
“So many wonderful people are associated with this,” he said. “It’s an honor. I couldn’t have done it without my wife, Michele. It’s been a good experience for both of us.”
Carver likened the Scholarship Challenge to a third child… one that never fusses or talks back. He and Michele have two children.
“The success of this show was in the community,” he added.
It was noted that in 25 years of existence, the Scholarship Challenge has had 3,242 students participate; more than 17,000 questions asked; $120,000 in prize money handed out and 20 state and national awards for radio excellence.
Used by permission from CQ Services, Inc.
