CONTACT: Melanie Pipkin
202-414-0778
Jul 6, 2006

50 CADETS COMPETE IN FIRST EVENT CONGRESSIONAL QUIZ BOWL

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Can you name the famous French engineer who planned the city of Washington?  Do you know during which war the Capitol was significantly burned down?  Do you know how many millimeters are in a kilometer?  If so, you could have competed with the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe cadets at the first ever Congressional Quiz Bowl in Washington on June 7, 2006.  The teams took turns answering eight different questionnaires that tested their knowledge of language arts, civics and government, history, geography, chemistry, biology, math and sports and leisure. 

Twelve four-member teams competed against in the first event of its kind.  The Quiz Bowl was part of the 10th Annual ChalleNGe Invitational, hosted this year by Freestate ChalleNGe Academy at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., as well as Representatives Dan Boren, D-Okla., and Mike McIntyre, D-N.C., met with the Youth ChalleNGe cadets from their home states and expressed their support for the program in their remarks and spoks with Foundation officials.

Freestate ChalleNGe Academy won the competition with the New Jersey Youth ChalleNGe Academy and the Georgia Fort Gordon Youth ChalleNGe Academy placing second and third, respectively.

“Freestate ChalleNGe Academy was quite proud to win the first ever Congressional Quiz Bowl,” said Freestate ChalleNGe Academy Program Director Col. Richard Young. 

“As this year’s host and the creators of the ChalleNGe Invitational, Maryland was especially gratified to prevail at the Rayburn Office Building in front of members of Congress.  Our team has worked hard and it was rewarding to see the efforts pay off against so many other talented teams,” he said.

Lt. Gen. Conaway, the Chairman of the Board of the National Guard Youth Foundation, was on hand to speak with the cadets following the competition.

“The Congressional Quiz Bowl is a terrific addition to the ChalleNGe Invitational,” Lt. Gen. Conaway said. 

“This event is yet another fine example of the positive impact the Foundation has on so many talented young men and women who are getting their lives back on track.  The Foundation will continue its efforts to expand the program to all 50 states so at-risk youth nationwide will have the opportunity for a second chance through our program,” noted Conaway after the competition.

Joe Padilla, the Deputy Chief of the Office of Athletics and Youth Development at the National Guard Youth Bureau, was also present to cheer on the cadets and to speak to guests about the Youth ChalleNGe Program’s importance.

The cadet’s success at the Congressional Quiz Bowl highlighted the continuing importance of the work of National Guard Youth Foundation.  The Foundation will continue to showcase the program’s success not only in Washington, but around the country.