Warsaw Women’s Center won the 16th annual Warsaw Education Foundation Community Quiz Bowl Tuesday night, but Madison Elementary School won in another way. Before the start of the competition, Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer challenged the 49 teams to help raise $624.24 for math materials for first-graders at Madison. The elementary had applied for a Red Apple Grant from the Foundation during its last grant cycle to pay for the materials, but WEF awarded six other grants and ran out of funding for Madison’s request, which was seventh on its list. Through the Red Apple Grants, the Foundation awards funding to WCS teachers for creative classroom projects. The Foundation recognized the school’s grant request was important and wanted to fund it, so the challenge was made to the Quiz Bowl participants last night. Between each set of questions, Thallemer gave an update on the challenge, encouraging participants to give a little more. Before the fourth and final set of 15 questions, Thallemer announced that $1,258 was raised. Barb Smolen, WEF executive director, said $624.24 of the money raised would fund the Madison grant with the rest going into the Red Apple Grant fund to be awarded at the end of May. After the last set of questions, the Quiz Bowl winners were announced. There was a tie for third place between Biomet and Robinson Construction, but through a tie breaker rule the trophy was given to Robinson Construction. Ivy Tech won second place with 49 points out of a possible 60, with Warsaw Women’s Center winning first with 51 points. Members of the first-place team were Melane Kleinhans, Dr. Tim Cook, Amy Waggoner, Dr. Tom Howard and Perry Waggoner. The winning team received a first-place plaque and took home the traveling trophy, which has winning teams added to it every year. The topics for the four sets of questions were “2014: Year in Review,” “Academics,” “Presidential History” and “Luck of the Irish.” There was a practice round of four questions. Lake City Bank sponsored the “halftime” of the event. Valedictorian level sponsor was Maple Leaf Farms. Honor Roll level sponsors were Biomet, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, Lake City Bank, Warsaw Morning Optimist Club, Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust and Pam and Todd Weingart. The Warsaw Education Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, champions academic innovation and excellence in Warsaw Community Schools. It provides funding, through community support, to advance enrichment opportunities, innovative and inventive teaching and academic exploration in WCS. For more information about the foundation, visit www.warsaweducationfoundation.org; contact it via email at Edfoundation@warsaw.k12.in.us; or call Smolen at 574-371-5098, Ext. 2410.
