Area high schools competing in SMU High School Challenge
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota High School Challenge kicked off its 38th season with Round 1A on Saturday, Oct. 11. High School Challenge is the longest-running, locally produced television program showcasing Eastern Minnesota, Western Wisconsin, and Northeast Iowa high school students in an educational forum. Competition resumes with Round 1B, starting at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 8, in the World Room, located in SMU’s Hendrickson Center. The public is welcome to attend.
High School Challenge is a contest in which high schools compete to correctly answer questions dealing with high school subjects, general information and current events. Thirty-two teams compete in winner and consolation bracket tournaments.
High school students receive scholarships to Saint Mary’s for participating in High School Challenge. Schools that win their first game receive $2,000 scholarships to SMU. Schools that lose their first game receive $1,000 scholarships to SMU. These scholarships are for any member of the senior class with a B or above average. Each scholarship is renewable for three consecutive years provided the student remains in good standing and maintains a 2.8/4.0 cumulative grade point average.
The following schools competed in Round 1A Oct. 11 and are moving onto the Consolation Championship on Saturday, Dec. 6: La Crosse Central, Logan White and Riceville (IA). Moving on to the Super Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 21, are La Crescent, Logan Red and Winona Senior High Orange. Other competing schools were Caledonia, Blair-Taylor, North Crawford, and Youth Initiati¬ve.
The following schools will participate in Round 1B on Nov. 8: Lewiston-Altura, Onalaska, Holmen White, Viroqua, Eau Claire Regis Green, Eau Claire Regis White, Seneca and Weston.
Teams that win their afternoon game will return for the Consolation Championship games. Teams that win their morning and afternoon games will return for the Super Challenge Championship. The final eight games of the tournament are taped at SMU and are televised on Fox 25 La Crosse and Fox 48 Eau Claire.
For more information, contact Nicole Witt Gerdes, High School Challenge coordinator, at (507) 457-1761 or ngerdes@smumn.edu.
