Purpose and Background
High School Academic TV Quiz show (24 schools)!
South Texas community’s low educational achievement rates and general unevenness of access to instructional programs are due to an imbalance of learning opportunities.
Much of this can be attributed to:
- An expanding low-income population;
- Geographical isolation of residents in rural areas; and
- Cultural and language barriers.
As this area’s community-licensed public broadcasting organization, KEDT addresses the unevenness of educational opportunities by delivering a variety of accessible public educational services that are available to every Coastal Bend resident. KEDT believes outreach programs developed and managed by local institutions specifically to connect with all segments of the local population can have a striking impact, especially among those in the under-represented minority population.
Beginning in January 2006, in collaboration with CorpusBeat.org, KEDT produced and broadcast a new academic quiz show called Challenge! This program has proven to be a unique and entertaining means of reaching out to the entire broadcast area and encouraging students and families to expand their knowledge and curiosity.
Focusing attention on learning in a fun way and demonstrating the value of education, Challenge! emphasizes quick recall of factual material. The varied quiz questions expand the visibility of regional historical, cultural, and educational attractions and promote life skills training related to health, nutrition, and home finance.
All major disciplines are covered – math, science, social studies, language arts, and fine arts – plus a few questions about current events, movies and TV, sports, and South Texas people, places and events. Each team’s contestants try to answer questions more quickly than members of the opposing team. It’s a rousing competition – as spirited as any football game.
For visual interest, some videotaped questions feature views of local historic sites and interviews with community leaders – allowing participants and audience members to see where local residents work and how they dress and act. Winning and runner-up teams receive scholarships, medals, plaques for their school’s trophy cases, and bragging rights as the “best and brightest” in South Texas.
Challenge! is proving to be a ‘win-win’ endeavor, raising audience awareness and resulting increased public interest in our schools.
This year’s broadcast sponsors include:
- The John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation;
- Earl C. Sams Foundation;
- CITGO
- H-E- Butt Grocery Company;
- Navy Army Federal Credit Union;
- Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
- Texas A&M University Kingsville
- The King Ranch Family Trust;
- B.C. and Addie Brookshire Kleberg County Charitable Foundation; and
- The Trull Foundation
New elements planned for next season's (2007-2008 school year) academic competition include:
- Inviting new schools to participate, including a 'home school' team;
- Adding an All Star Game
The Challenge All Star game provides a unique opportunity for the “best of the best” to play in KEDT’s academic tournament. 24 South Texas High Schools have registered teams to compete.
From the 144 participating students, 12 will be selected to play in the Challenge All Star Game. Participating players will be selected based on their outstanding performance and teamwork from the first two rounds of the 2008 Challenge competition.
Host Eric Boyd will conduct brief interviews with each student between rounds, allowing viewers to get to know them individually. The Challenge All Star Game will spotlight those who deserve recognition for their academic excellence and allow them to interact with students from other South Texas school.
Goals to be Accomplished
- To raise the level of ambition in academics and give recognition to South Texas students' academic achievements.
- To set educational role models for younger children who see their friends and siblings on prime time television.
- To spark an interest in ideas and showcase the value of learning among the general population.
Impact of Challenge! on the Public
Generally Ongoing, positive results for the South Texas community include:
- Stimulating intellectual growth and achievement among residents of all ages, especially the minority population;
- Promoting school pride and sportsmanship through inter-school academic team competitions;
- Emphasizing the need for increased communications skills
