Participants prepare to answer questions during their preliminary round during the junior scholastic challenge in the Hiller Auditorium at Penn State DuBois.
DuBOIS, Pa. – Young minds from around the region gathered in the Hiller Auditorium at Penn State DuBois on Feb. 20 for the 26th annual junior scholastic challenge. Middle school students from five schools came together to test their knowledge in numerous subjects.
Michael Clement, the master of ceremonies, welcomed students and guests, setting the tone for an evening filled with intellectual rigor and friendly competition. The event kicked off with the singing of the national anthem performed by Jessica Mondi, director of marketing and strategic communications at Penn State DuBois. Jungwoo Ryoo, chancellor and chief academic officer, also took the stage with enthusiasm, welcoming everyone to the campus. Students from Brockway, Brookville, Clearfield, DuBois, DuBois Central Catholic and Saint Marys each represented their schools in the competition.
Competing teams gather for a group photo at the 26th annual Junior Scholastic Challenge, held at Penn State DuBois on Feb. 20.
The evening started off with four preliminary rounds with each school being represented by one of their team members. Each round contained 30 questions, with the first student buzzing in and answering correctly receiving 10 points from their team. Each of the rounds was highly competitive and the score was close throughout. After the first round, DuBois held a large lead after scoring 140 points. The closest team to them was DuBois Central Catholic with 40 points. The second round saw the scores for each team even up, with DuBois holding steady at 140 points, followed by DuBois Central Catholic with 110, a three-way tie between Brockway, Brookville and Saint Marys at 50 points. Clearfield entered the third preliminary round still looking to get on the scoreboard.
The third round saw the highest single round points scored, with Angelo Yost of Saint Marys answering 15 questions correctly for 150 points. His performance gave Saint Marys the lead with 200 points overall heading into the fourth and final preliminary round. At the end of the fourth round, Saint Marys (250 points), DuBois Central Catholic (180 points), DuBois (160 points) and Brockway (110 points) advanced to the finals, with Brookville (60 points) and Clearfield (30 points) falling short of the points total needed to qualify.
In the two final rounds, each school sent up members of their team. While each school was represented by multiple students, they each worked independently and couldn’t work together to find the correct answers. Answering questions correctly earned each team 10 points and incorrect answers cost each team five points.
Brockway took an early lead in the finals, scoring 120 points in round one. They were followed by Saint Marys (75 points), DuBois Central Catholic (65 points) and DuBois (50 points). The second round saw the highest point performance of the finals with Saint Marys scoring 150 points in the round, with Angelo Yost answering 12 questions correctly. This gave Saint Marys the win with 225 total points for the finals. They were followed by DuBois (145 points), DuBois Central Catholic (130 points) and Brockway (100 points).
The sixth-place team from Clearfield consisted of team members (students listed in alphabetical):
- Libby Albright
- Joshua Chimenti
- Grady Evans
- Ally Gibson
- Harley Stiner
- Advisor Barb Spila
- Advisor Leslie Palumbo
The fifth-place team from Brookville consisted of team members (students listed in alphabetical):
- Bridger Afton
- Kabe Kaltenbach
- Patric Neill
- Eliza Shaffer
- Austin Werner
- Advisor Melinda Reitz
The fourth-place team from Brockway consisted of team members (students listed in alphabetical):
- Landen Anderson
- Roman Buttery
- Lenny Fremer
- Josh Koehler
- Carson Shick
- Advisor Erin Schiafone
- Advisor Eric Stawecki
The third-place team from DuBois Central Catholic consisted of team members (students listed in alphabetical):
- Keyanna Crissman
- Camden Dodd
- Katelyn Felix
- Reagan Gillespie
- Gage Meredith
- Advisor Renee Gressler
The second-place team from DuBois consisted of team members (students listed in alphabetical):
- Claire Akers
- Evangeline Gearhart
- Makenna Johnson
- Sophia Kugler
- Mitchell Weaver
- Advisor Andrew Johnson
The first-place team from Saint Marys consisted of team members (students listed in alphabetical):
- Kayd Caskey
- Max Keebler
- Luke Vollmer
- Peyton Wendel
- Angelo Yost
- Advisor Jamie Caskey
- Advisor Angie Vollmer
Angelo Yost, right, from Saint Marys stands with Jungwoo Ryoo, chancellor and chief academic officer at Penn State DuBois. Yost received two individual awards for his performance during the 26th annual Junior Scholastic Challenge, held at Penn State DuBois.
Two individual awards were also given out for the highest individual scores in the preliminary rounds and the final rounds. Angelo Yost from Saint Marys took home both honors after answering 15 questions correctly in the preliminary round and 12 questions correctly in the final round.
Penn State DuBois will also host the senior scholastic challenge, which will take place on March 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Hiller Auditorium.
