Bluefield, Greenbrier East High Schools advance to Academic Showdown finals
By RealWV Staff,
ATHENS, W.Va. – Teams from Mercer and Greenbrier Counties punched their tickets to the Academic Showdown state finals on Saturday, as they placed first and second respectively, in regional competition at Concord University.
The University, as well as the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) welcomed 16 teams to the Region 5 competition in Athens, but it was Bluefield High School Team 1 and Greenbrier East High School Team 1, who earned a spot in the finale at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston on April 30.
The WVDE hosted teams from the following schools at CU:
- Bluefield High School
- Greenbrier East High School
- James Monroe High School
- Oak Hill High School
- PikeView High School
- Princeton High School
- Shady Spring High School
- Summers County High School
- Woodrow Wilson High School
“It’s amazing to win a knowledge competition. It’s a heartwarming feeling to work with teammates,” said Bluefield High School Team 1 Captain Quinn Brown. “It’s a really fun activity because you never really know what to expect.”
“The Academic Showdown continues to prove that students in the Mountain State are well equipped for the future. The display of talent each team brings to the competition is inspiring,” said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. “Congratulations to Bluefield and Greenbrier East High Schools for advancing to the finale. I am proud of the hard work each student put into preparing for today.”
In Addition to Bluefield and Greenbrier East, teams participating in the Concord University Regional included:
- PikeView High School
- Woodrow Wilson High School
- Princeton Senior High School
- James Monroe High School
- Shady Spring High School
- Oak Hill High School
- Summers County High School
Bluefield and Greenbrier East will now join Bridgeport High School Team 1, Grafton High School Team 1, Spring Mills High School, Berkeley Springs High School, and both teams from Morgantown High School in the state final.
The Showdown is a partnership between the WVDE, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History and West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
The next regional competition is set for Friday, at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College. Stay up-to-date on the Academic Showdown by visiting the WVDE website.
