NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: February 6, 2019
Contact:
Samantha Beaver
Coordinator, Youth Programs
Gallaudet University
(202) 618-6799 VP/Voice
samantha.beaver@gallaudet.edu
Contact:
Amanda Parker
Outreach Coordinator
Mississippi School for the Deaf
(601) 351-9105 VP/Voice
aparker@mdek12.org
JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi School for the Deaf (MSD) will host the Gallaudet University Southern Regional Academic Bowl for Deaf and Hard of Hearing High School Students Thursday, February 21 through Sunday, February 24. Eighteen teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., along with two transfer teams (California and Missouri), will compete for the chance to attend the National Academic Bowl at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., April 11 -14.
Gallaudet University established the Academic Bowl for deaf and hard of hearing high school students in 1997 with the goal of promoting academic competition among school teams, and to foster academic excellence and achievement among deaf and hard of hearing students across the country. The competition consists of a question and answer game of general knowledge and quick recall. Questions are drawn from the following categories: social studies; language and literature; science and technology; mathematics; arts and entertainment; deaf studies; current events; potpourri; and pop culture, leisure, and sports.
“The Academic Bowl competition creates a wonderful positive environment for deaf and hard of hearing students where they can stretch their brains, meet like-minded peers from all over the nation, and learn about the only deaf university in the world - Gallaudet University,” said Samantha Beaver, coordinator of youth programs. “Students work hard all year, at times even sacrificing their free time in the summer to study and prepare for their upcoming competitions. Seeing players create unbreakable bonds with other players, increase in self-confidence, and discover their identities is truly the best thing about this competition.”
MSD Superintendent Wendy Rogers said, “It is an honor to host the 2019 Academic Competition for the Southern Region. As a veteran host of the event, we are looking forward to having another excellent competition.”
Gallaudet hosts four regional competitions with up to 20 teams per event. The top four teams from each region are automatically invited to the national competition. The two winners of the consolation bracket will take the wild card test. The top four scoring wild card teams out of the 10 wild card teams will then be invited to the national competition.
The Midwest Regional competition will be held at the Kansas School for the Deaf February 14-17; the West Regional competition will be held at Phoenix Day School for the Deaf March 1-4; and the East Regional competition will be held at Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf March 8-11.
About Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English. Gallaudet maintains a proud tradition of research and scholarly activity and prepares its graduates for career opportunities in a highly competitive, technological, and rapidly changing world.
About Mississippi School for the Deaf
The state of Mississippi has been providing education to deaf children since 1829. Mississippi School for the Deaf (MSD) was established by an act of the Mississippi Legislature in 1854 for the express purpose of providing an educational program for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The school has achieved full accreditation through AdvancedEd.
Media Contact:
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR
Director of Communications
601-359-3706
Jean Cook, APR
Director of Public Relations
601-359-3519