Event considered the Super Bowl of global issues and foreign policy with winner going to Washington D.C.
The Academic WorldQuest (AWQ) is the World Affairs Councils of America’s (WACA) flagship education program which engages more than 3,000 high school students annually across the US, testing their knowledge of global issues and foreign policy. The program offers young people a fun and interactive way to learn about critical challenges facing the US and the world.
Since 2003, the AWQ has been a team game testing high school students’ knowledge of international affairs. “We are thrilled to be part of this great program working in cooperation with the Beaufort County School District, bringing Academic WorldQuest to our county high schools,” says Ivan Bennett, member of the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head (WACHH). “Since we began our participation seven years ago, Hilton Head High School won once, Beaufort High School three times, May River High School twice, and Bluffton High School most recently in 2019. We invite the public to come out and test your knowledge of global issues. Are you as smart as an AWQ Scholar?”
This year's competition takes place on Saturday, March 7, 2020, 9:00 am at Hilton Head Island High School.
Beaufort County high school students join approximately 3,000 other students in the US, hosted by about 40 other World Affairs Councils in 26 states. The students’ knowledge of international affairs, geography, history, and culture is tested throughout the school year, though competitors work beyond their regular curriculum to prepare for this quest. Winning teams (about 225 students total) are invited to Washington, D.C. to represent their high schools, cities, and local councils. WACHH pays all expenses for the trip for these students, parents, teachers, and chaperones, which includes visits to historic sites in addition to the competition.
If you would like to volunteer, coach, mentor, or get involved with this program, please contact Ivan Bennett at (843) 816-1498, IBennett@aol.com, or the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head’s office at wachhi@gmail.com.
