Image: Shown left to right, Rett Kline (class of 2026), Parker Lachowicz (2025), Yash Pillai (2027), and Daniel Cheng (2024, graduated) compete in Alabama Scholars’ Bowl, shown on PBS
Nothing is too random for Scholars’ Bowl—from Odysseus to War and Peace to the Ottoman Empire, competitors can be quizzed on almost any subject.
Each question is presented as a series of information about the answer, beginning with relatively obscure trivia and gradually advancing to more recognizable facts. For instance, one question about Thomas Hobbes begins by describing his translation of Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War and closes by mentioning his authorship of Leviathan.
Most competitions involve two types of questions: toss-ups and bonus questions. Toss-up questions are read aloud for both teams, and any competitor can activate his or her buzzer to answer; however, teams are forbidden to communicate during a toss-up. An incorrect buzz made before a question’s end subtracts 5 points, but a correct answer can earn 15 or 10 points, depending on how much of the question was read. After making a correct buzz, teams answer three bonus questions for 10 points each; unlike toss-ups, no buzzes are made for bonus questions. Rather, teams confer for discussion before the team captain delivers the final answer. Bonus questions are related to each other but don't pertain to the toss-up they follow. In some competitions, a bonus answered incorrectly can be “stolen” by the other team, after which the question’s original recipient answers the next bonus.
At Vestavia, Scholars’ Bowl isn’t a class or even an official club—though it does get a yearbook picture—and it only practices once a week for forty minutes. Still, Scholars’ Bowl continues to draw students’ interest, in large part because much of what they already study gives them a head start. That head start encourages many participants to learn more as they practice and compete. VHHS senior Parker Lachowicz says that he “truly loves the pursuit of learning and Scholars’ Bowl allows [him] to put that learning into practice and competition.”
At Vestavia, Scholars’ Bowl is also something of a community-builder. While freshmen practice separately from the rest of the high school, competitions provide a normally isolated cohort the opportunity to interact with and learn from their upperclassmen. Lachowicz, a Scholars’ Bowl participant since his freshman year, adds, “I remember being at Scholars’ Bowl meets as a freshman [and] looking up to the juniors and seniors that I thought were literal geniuses, so I guess it’s a little surreal now that I’m that figure for some of our lowerclassmen on the team.”
Students interested in Scholars’ Bowl are welcome to join practices in Mr. Sinnott’s room (H260) on Thursdays after school or simply ask for further information. Participation carries no requirements and competitions are not mandatory. Freshmen who wish to learn more should speak to Mr. Osborne.
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