The People Behind The Challenge

Chuck Carver, Executive Producer. Chuck joined WATS Broadcasting, Inc. in 1976 as a staff announcer and has been president, general manager and co-owner of the stations since 1986. As creator of scholarship challenge he has had the privilege of asking every one of the questions in the program's storied history.

His busy community schedule includes an active role as a community lay speaker, trustee for Guthrie Healthcare System, member of the Board of Directors for Sayre Rotary and Valley Energy. Chuck is a former Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce "Business Person of the Year" and a 1998 inductee into the Miami East (Ohio) High School Hall of Fame. In 2002, he received the Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary. Chuck is married to the former Michele Spence, and they have two sons, Kevin and Jeffrey.

Michele Carver. Production Assistant. Michele serves as the Program's Hostess and handles many of the "Behind the Scenes" duties that make the broadcast look and feel just right.

Larry Brown, Engineer. Larry, a Vice President of the Corporation, has been with WATS Broadcasting since the 1960s. He built the elaborate buzzer and scoring systems used on scholarship challenge, and has engineered every broadcast from the site.

Joel Clawson. Joel is the studio announcer and back up Engineer for the Challenge Broadcasts. On weekdays he's the voice of the radio stations as program director and morning show host.

Ron Cole. Ron is the behind the scenes voice and studio Engineer for the Broadcasts, lending his considerable talents to making sure the transitions from live program to pre-recorded commercials go off without a hitch.

The judges. Leading community citizens like Bob Crocker, Jim Podolinski, Robin Munn, Mike Shaw, Dr. Sidney Rank and others volunteer their time each week...to handle any concerns that come up during the broadcast; and always rendering fair decisions. We couldn't do it without them!

CQ Services. Jodie Hilliker and her staff at CQ Services in Sayre offer many in-kind services as a community partner with scholarship challenge. From designing the Logo, to printing game day programs. To providing internet access for the judges... CQ is a valuable part of the scholarship challenge team.

State Lawmakers. Pennsylvania state senator Roger Madigan, Pennsylvania State Representative Tina Pickett, and New York State Senator Tom Libous make generous donations each year in support of the challenge...and underwrite the acquisition of questions and other costs associated with the broadcast.

To all of these people and so many more who have and who continue to support scholarship challenge we say a big Thank You... on behalf of the stars of the classroom who will take part this year.