Great Valley High Wins Spot At National Academic Quiz Competition

MALVERN, PA — Great Valley High School recently competed in the 2019 Pennsylvania State Academic Competition. When all was said and done, the school came in second place but being the runner-up will send them to the national stage of the competition.

The 2019 Pennsylvania State Academic Competition was held on Friday, April 26 in Harrisburg.

Great Valley sadly fell to Hempfield High School, which advance tdhrough the semi-final rounds and clinched the championship win against Great Valley and West Chester Henderson High School.

Great Valley finished the contest with 70 points. Hempfield scored 95 and West Chester Henderson 55.

GVHS earned a $500 scholarship underwritten by the Pennsylvania State Education Association, which was the event sponsor. Hempfield won a $2,000 scholarship and West Chester Henderson also earned a $500 scholarship.

All three teams in the championship round are eligible to advance to the National Academic Quiz Tournaments May 24 through May 26 in Atlanta, Georgia.

During the competition, hosted by Representative John A. Lawrence, students answered a variety of challenging questions from categories including literature, science, American history, world history, potpourri and contemporary events.

“All of the students who participated in the state academic competition are already champions. They earned their position in the state competition by winning local and regional matches in their home counties,” said Jay Stone, Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) special events coordinator. “I would like to congratulate all of the participants, as they represent the brightest, most dedicated academic competitors in the Commonwealth."

The state competition began 20 county academic champions from across Pennsylvania. They competed against one another in a series of matches in order to advance to the semifinals. Each match consisted of two rounds with ten toss-up questions for any of the teams to “buzz in” and answer, as well as six fanfare questions, which are to be answered in rapid succession within 60 seconds. Nine teams earned a spot in one of three semi-final matches. The winner of each of those matches advanced to the championship game.

Each of Pennsylvania’s 29 intermediate units is permitted to send one high school academic team to participate in the competition.

The Chester County academic teams will be recognized at the Chester County Champions awards banquet hosted by Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union on Thursday, May 16. At the banquet, Franklin Mint will honor the teams, as well as the Chester County All-Star Team, the Chester County Coach of the Year and the Chester County Competitor of the Year.