3 Delco schools set to clash for quiz kid title
Due to the storm and snow accumulation, the Delco Hi-Q championship has been postponed twice. The champion will officially be crowned today as teams from Garnet Valley, Haverford and Delaware County Christian compete Thursday at Garnet Valley High School.
Garnet Valley High School’s Hi-Q teams have earned four titles since 2011, for a total of eight since their first win in 1978. Last season, they placed third among the 21 participating high schools. This year marks the school’s twentythird championship appearance since 1977. Faculty Advisor Lesley Arensberg has been coaching the team for twelve years and fellow advisor Sandra Dubnansky is in her seventh year.
Defending Champions, Haverford High School makes its 22nd championship appearance dating back to 1955. The school holds 10 Championship titles since joining Hi-Q in its inaugural 1948-1949 season. Faculty Advisor Laurie Grady is in her first year of leading the team.
Delaware County Christian School joined the competition in the 1990’s and is making their fourth overall championship appearance. The school placed third in 1995, 2006, and 2012. Team coach Thom Houghton is a nineteen year faculty advisor.
Prizes will be awarded and all Delco Hi-Q teams will be recognized at the annual Partners in Education Celebration being held April 19 at Drexelbrook Corporate Events Center. More than 600 students, parents, teachers, businesspeople, and local dignitaries will attend the region’s premier academic awards ceremony. Delco Hi-Q students and their faculty advisors attend the Celebration at no cost. Supporters of Hi-Q and other programs recognized at the region’s premier academic achievement event can purchase tickets. Sponsors are also welcome! Information can be found at PartnersInEducationFoundation.org.
The Delco Hi-Q champion team will advance to the national competition April 13, where four schools will compete via video conference. This will bring to a close Delco Hi-Q’s milestone 70th season. The longest, continuous high school academic quiz competition began as a benevolent program of the Scott Paper Company and was sustained by Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union (FMFCU), which made a financial commitment to the program after Scott Paper was sold and moved its headquarters out of Delaware County.
Delco Hi-Q is managed by the Credit Union’s staff as a program of its charitable arm, Partners in Education Foundation, and the Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU). FMFCU Vice President Rick Durante serves as Executive Director and Quizmaster, FMFCU Foundation Development & Events Specialist Danielle Griffin is Hi-Q Coordinator, and DCIU’s Dave Bramble is the production engineer. In addition to support from participating schools, Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union and the Wilbur C. and Betty Lea Henderson Foundation are the primary corporate sponsors. Additional support comes from longtime sponsor Kimberly-Clark Corporation and the Delaware County Daily Times.
Visit www.DelcoHiQ.org for details about the history of Delco Hi-Q.