Media Release
March 12, 2019 4:00 p.m.
The United States Constitution Scholarship Foundation (USCSF), in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach, have announced that they will co-sponsor the inaugural Constitution Bowl Challenge on April 9 at 6:30 pm at the Yulee High School auditorium.
Nassau County Superintendent of schools, Dr. Kathy Burns, and the four high school principals involved — Dr. John Mazzella, Fernandina Beach; Tammy Johnson, Hilliard; Natasha Drake, Yulee; and Curtis Gaus, West Nassau, all stated they are excited to participate in this new venture.
The Bowl will consist of four student teams from each Nassau County high school as well as Nassau County home-schooled students. Each school has appointed a teacher/coach who has then selected a team of four participants. The coaches are Caleb Bryan, West Nassau; George Lavino, Yulee; Jonathan Ball, Hilliard; Steve Rathmann, Fernandina Beach; and Heidi Cook for the Home Educated community. The coaches also have been charged with preparing the students for the Challenge.
The subject matter for this event will include the Founders, the Federalist Papers, the United States Constitution and important Supreme Court decisions. There will be two rounds, with the first round being 30 minutes and the second round, with two teams eliminated, will be 20 minutes. If the top two teams are tied at the end of the second round there will be a sudden death round.
Fernandina Beach’s Bradley Bean will serve as the moderator for this event, presenting questions to all teams. The first team to buzz in will have 30 seconds to answer the proposed question and provide the correct answer. If the answer is incorrect, the second team to buzz in will have the opportunity to respond. The judge for the first round will be attorney Sharon Foster and Judge Adrian Soud will serve as the second-round judge.
At the end of the tournament, scholarship/gift amounts will be awarded to the various participants. Members of the winning team will each receive $1000.00, while members of the second-place team will receive $250.00.
Along with the monetary awards, the winning school will receive a trophy and plaques will be provided to first- and second-place contestants along with their coach.
The public is invited to attend and cheer for their team. Admission is free. Refreshments during the Challenge can be purchased through the Yulee Booster Club.
For more information regarding the USCSF and the Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach please visit their websites at www.uscsf.net and www.fernandinabeachrotaryclub.org.
Great idea! So happy to hear this.