The Annual Community Quiz Bowl Fundraiser, held at Hastings High School on Thursday, March 30, was a smashing success. Fourteen teams competed, and in total, approximately $900 was raised. As done historically, students on the Academic Challenge Team served as moderators, and parents competed. Parents with children who have already graduated even competed!

Some fun team names included: The Wise Guys, The Know-it-Somes, Quiz Busters, Hastings Hellions, and Hastings Half-Wits. The top two teams, GDubbs and Morningside Heist, played four rounds, competing for the championship. GDubbs was led by Andy Zimmerman, father of sophomore Jasper Zimmerman. Morningside Heist was led by Atri Ray, a 2021 Hastings High School graduate and a two-time National Champion at Columbia University (hence the team name Morningside Heist). In a close match, GDubbs prevailed and was named Champion.

After a busy year of excelling, the Academic Challenge Team has qualified for both of their National Tournaments! In May and June, they will compete again in the Questions Unlimited National Tournament. This tournament, previously held in Washington D.C., is now a virtual event. Over Memorial Day Weekend, Academic Challenge Team Advisor Michael Wilson will travel with juniors Benny Feldman, Owen Linder, Hazel DePreist-Sullivan, and Jacob Goldman-Wetzler to Atlanta for the National Academic Quiz Tournament (NAQT).