Arlington Trivia Bee was a Stinging Success

“Internet Research Agency” Crowned Champs at the 24th Annual Trivia Bee

On Sunday March 17th, the Arlington Education Foundation hosted the 24th annual Arlington Trivia Bee at Town Hall. Thirty-two teams of three adults participated in a multi-round competition that covered topics ranging from history, sports and current events to science, music and literature. Town Hall was packed with over 350 people who turned out to cheer for friends and enjoy an afternoon of trivial pursuits.

In the first round of the Trivia Bee, seven teams of fifth-graders, one team from each elementary school, faced off in their own competition. The kids proudly showed off their knowledge on a wide variety of subjects. In the end, the Pierce School team of Jacob Zaganjori, Jacoby Katzman, Conard Anderson earned the trophy which will live at Pierce till next year.

The adult teams represented a wide variety of Arlington’s civic organizations and interest groups, including the “Question Quorum” of the Arlington Select Board, “Channel Surfers” of ACMI, and “All You Can Eats” of Arlington EATS, to name a few. Several teams were comprised of neighborhood groups or friends. In addition to creative team names, many teams wore themed hats -- or full costumes -- which added a sense of fun to the competition.

Teams were challenged with questions like “Some argue that Watson and Crick should have shared the Nobel Prize with what female colleague who created Photo 51, an X-ray that shows the structure of DNA?” (answer: Rosalind Franklin) and “Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 is one of the most widely read poems in all of English literature. It begins, ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more’—what?” (answer: temperate).

Following four rounds of questions, three teams remained for a sudden death playoff round. After the first question about how Henry Thoreau intended to live his life at Walden Pond, the winning team was clear: “Internet Research Agency” made up of Rebekah Lea, Andrew Feller and Adam Lane took home the trophy for the 2018 Arlington Trivia Bee. (answer: deliberately.)

The best costume award went to the school committee team. Jennifer Susse, Paul Schlichtman and Leba Heigham were costumed in work zone gear to illustrate their team name, “School Demolition Committee.”

The free event is always a fun afternoon for participants as well as for spectators who enjoy the kids’ activities, live music, coffee and bee-shaped cookies, and the chance to win door prizes provided by local businesses who sponsor AEF.

This year’s Trivia Bee highlighted a growing number of local businesses that support AEF’s goals of enhancing public education in Arlington. AEF is especially grateful to diamond sponsor: Belmont Savings Bank Foundation. AEF is incredibly fortunate to have two platinum sponsors: Arlington Orthodontics and Belmont Orthodontics & Belmont Pediatric Dentistry. Many thanks go to the two gold sponsors: Villandry Contracting and Zipwall Dust Barrier Solutions. AEF benefits from several silver sponsors: AFC Urgent Care, Brookline Bank, Carney General Contracting, Custom Contracting, DENS Facility Services, Leader Bank, Maureen E. Igoe d/b/a Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., McLean Hospital, Mirak Automotive Group, Running Brook Camps and Watertown Savings Bank. AEF is proud to partner with its many bronze sponsors: Arlington Heights Nursery School, Arlington Swifty Printing, Armstrong Ambulance Service, Beaujolais Catering, Bennett Family Eye Care, Bowes Real Estate, Dance Place, Helena's, Involution Studios, Judy Weinberg, Leading Edge RE, Leone & Leone Attorneys at Law, Lexington Toyota, Nitwits Intelligent Lice Treatment, Quad Cycles, Red Door Design Works, Rockland Trust, Sidekicks Sports Academy, Stephanie Ford-Weems/Coldwell Banker, Summer Street Autocare, That’s Neat! Organizing, The RePurposed Home, and UpBeat Cycling.

AEF provides grants for system-wide initiatives and creative new projects to enhance the educational experience of Arlington’s teachers and students. Community donations enable AEF to award approximately $100,000 annually in grants to the Arlington Public Schools. For more information on AEF and its grants, visit www.aefma.org.