News and updates

1st Place - Bluffton High School - Green
Jamie Ni
Joseph Prochazkia
Katherine Riddle
Ava Elizabeth Rios
Nick Phillips

2nd Place - May River High School - Team 1 - Light Green
Braeden Mancini
Hayle Shupard
Emma Peeples
Anneliese Germany

3rd Place - Heritage Academy - Heritage Academy - Blue
Carly Anthony
David Morris
Colin Owen
Mason Petty
Luke Benson

Hilton Head Island High School - Light Blue
Gabriela Marcisi
Mallika Krishna
Gracie Pufal

Battery Creek High School - Orange
Andrew Hager 
James Breland
Zayda Puit
Sania McMillian
Imani Douglas
La'Niya Ramsey
Joanna Lin

May River High School - Team 2 - Light Green
Harper Burch
Noah Lowry
Cole Peltz

Hilton Head Preparatory - Purple
Charlie Hardwick
Rachel Del Gaizo
Zoe Lui
Tuggle Daly

Take a look at what an amazing year we had this past year! Cherish the memories and insights . . . Annual Report 2024.pdf

What a great season we had! Here is an archive of the programs from the 2023-2024 season. If you'd like to print a copy, make sure to select the print on both sides option.

John Bolton 10.6.23

Bruce Jentleson 11.3.23

Anna Wieslander 11.10.23

Brad Ringeisen 12.1.23

Phillip Saunders 1.5.24

Peter Ammon 1.19.24

Michael Singh 2.2.24

L Silverman 2.16.24

Rami Khouri 3.1.24

Gustavo F. Macias 3.15.24

Richard Heydarian 4.5.24

Ed Schoonveld 4.16.24

Paige Alexander 5.3.24

This past year we had nearly 50 local students participate from eight high schools across Beaufort County. We cover all local and national competition costs. Without funds from our generous partners like the Heritage Classic Foundation we would not be able to send a team to nationals each year. Our consistent participation in this program also helps our overall status in the WACA consortium and puts us on the map to be considered for the prestigious distinction as a WACA Council of the Year. So for that, we are so grateful to you all.

This year 2024, the winning team was from Bluffton High School. It was the first year we had an all-female winning team, and they were one of two all-female teams at the National Competition. As one of the youngest female Executive Directors currently affiliated with WACA’s ninety councils, this was a heartwarming and exciting win. I was proud to support them and chaperone the team to Nationals.

Sending a team to Nationals is a life-changing learning opportunity for these students as they prepare for life after high school. Not only did the team get to travel to our Nation’s capital and meet other high-achieving students from around the U.S., but they also had other opportunities set up by the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head. This year the students had a private Capitol tour with Nancy Mace’s staff (while she was in session voting on funding for Ukraine!), visited the Air and Space Museum, saw the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives, enjoyed authentic Korean hotpot (one of the categories at the competition was South Korea), and learned from veterans at the Korean and Vietnam war memorials. Our Executive Director had the opportunity to chaperone the team and it was quite the life-changing experience for her as well, as she builds her career in the nonprofit sector of our community. We are very proud of this program and worked with the BCSD Social Studies coordinator this year to ensure it remains a staple in the local high schools.

Take a look back on our 2022-2023 season and learn more about us in our Annual Report: https://www.wachh.org/resources/2022%202023%20Annual%20Report.pdf

After many years of service, our Executive Director has decided to retire and spend more time with her family. The Council is currently seeking applications for the Executive Director position. 

Position Summary:  The priority of the Executive Director will be expanding WACHH’s development and marketing programs to rebuild membership and diversify WACHH’s revenues from a membership fee-based structure to stronger engagement with business sponsors, other donors, and partners. Additional responsibilities will include ensuring the operational excellence of WACHH’s flagship Distinguished Speakers Program and overseeing operations of the organization with substantial support from committees of volunteers. The Executive Director reports to and works closely with the Board of Directors. The position is full-time and in-person (Hilton Head Island), with some remote work possible.

The Ideal candidate will be experienced in marketing and development, highly organized, both strategic and detail-oriented, and an effective communicator with strong connections in the communities of Hilton Head and Bluffton.

Start Date: January 3, 2023

To Apply :Please e-mail a cover letter and resume to vicepresident@wachh.org with “Executive Director Application” in the subject line. For a complete job description, click here. 

The WACHH Book Club discussed The Chancellor – The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel by Kati Marton.   There was lively debate and here are their key takeaways from the book:

• It was refreshing to read about a leader who is clearly value-driven, authentic, humble, accountable, scandal-free, effective user of soft-power, extremely smart, and concerned about the well-being of people, climate, and democracy.  She takes a moral approach to solving problems.
• Merkel is a great contrast to “ignorance and bluster” that has become so pervasive in politics.
• She was the perfect leader for the period she was Chancellor of Germany – she earned the trust of her people and the respect of even the most difficult world leaders.

Three questions were raised at the end of the discussion:

• How as a scientist did, she come to the decision to move her country away from nuclear energy, and hasn’t that decision made Germany’s current energy situation much worse?  This is a question participants would love to ask Merkel and wish the author had covered in more depth.
• If Merkel was still Chancellor of Germany, would Putin have again invaded Ukraine? Views of the group were mixed – some said “yes" and some said “no."
• If Merkel was in the United States, could she, or a leader like her, ever be elected President?  The consensus was “probably not” because American politics has a bias against such high intellect and steadiness.

Would they recommend this book to others- Absolutely! 

The Council has been very busy this past year. We invite you to take a look at our 21/22 Annual Report and see what we have been up to. WorldAffairsCouncil-AnnualReport final.pdf

World Affairs Council of Hilton Head announces the winner of the Beaufort County 10^th Annual Academic WorldQuest Competition

Sports competitions between high school teams abound, but this past Saturday, 38 students across Beaufort County stretched their brains, not their muscles.  Academic WorldQuest, a student outreach program of the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head, challenged eight teams from seven area high schools who answered 100 questions on topics related to world affairs. The competition is much like the “College Bowl” of the 1960s, where four-person teams engage in a fast-paced quest to demonstrate their knowledge of global issues. The event was held at Bluffton High School, the 2020 Academic WorldQuest Competition winner.

Since September, students, and their coaches at participating schools (Battery Creek High School. Bluffton High School, Heritage Academy, Hilton Head High School, Hilton Head Christian Academy, John Paul II Catholic High School, May River High School) have been preparing for the competition with many hours beyond their regular school workload. The impressive global knowledge skills of these students were certainly on display. The competition was intense, with many schools just points away from winning. 

In the end, after ten rounds of competition and two tie-breaking rounds, the 2022 Academic WorldQuest trophy was awarded to Hilton Head Christian Academy.  May River High School earned a second-place finish.

Hilton Head Christian Academy competed in the 2022 Academic WorldQuest Competition based in Washington, DC, on April 26^th representing the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head. Congratulations to all the coaches, students, and supportive parents for their outstanding efforts!

Take this short quiz and see if you are as smart as our High School students competing in the local AWQ competition. ( answers at the bottom).

1.     Despite contributing only ______ % of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, Sub-Saharan Africa is a region suffering most from climate change impact.

A.     2.7%, B.     7.1%, C.     10.7%, D.     21.0%

2.     In 2010, Afghan National Security Advisor Rangin Spanta said that “corruption is not just a problem for the system of governance in Afghanistan; it is the system of governance
A.     True, B.     False

3.     Taiwan’s greatest strength when viewed on the International stage is_____?
A.     It is a huge supplier of semi-conductors
B.     A thriving democratic society
C.     A critical link in global supply chains
D.     A friend of the US, Japan and Australia 

4.     Allied with the AFL-CIO, The Solidarity Center is the largest US-based international worker rights organization. The Center’s mission includes  _______________ . 

A. petitioning governments to increase spending on business ventures.   B. insisting that workers comply with safety regulations          C.  requiring employers to provide training programs                            D. empowering workers to raise their voices for dignity on the job

 5.     Currently, Covid-19 is estimated to cost the world __________?

A.     $11 billion. 
B.     $5 trillion. 
C.     $2 trillion.
D.     $11 Trillion 

6.     Autocratic states such as China control their domestic information environments by:                                                                                                                 A. Manipulating information.                                                                                             B. Limiting internet use.                                                                                                     C. Charging unaffordable premiums for internet access.                                           D. Enacting laws that restrict freedom of information.

7.     The Israeli surveillance company added to the US trade blacklist is called: 

 A. Malware                                                                                                                           B.  NOS                                                                                                                                     C. Veracode                                                                                                                          D. Norton

 8.     Which Persian State has the largest Shia population?

A.     Yemen
B.     Iran
C.     Oman
D.     U.A.E                                                                            

      

9.     China has demonstrated interests in the Arctic for all but which of the following reasons?

A.  Fisheries.                                                                                                                            B.  Shipping routes.                                                                                                                C. Territorial land rights as a continental state                                                               D. Oil and Gas explorations

10.  What additional feature(s) is key to helping blockchain fight corruption?
A.     Reduced mining
B.     Mandated use
C.     Lack of anonymity
D.     All of the above

Answers 1)B, 2) A, 3) B, 4) D, 5) D, 6) A, 7) B, 8) B, 9) C, 10) C