Since the early 1990s, Northwest-Shoals Community College has had a College Bowl Team that competes against other colleges around the country in subjects such as literature, history, math, science, sports and pop culture. Although each team member receives a full-tuition scholarship to NW-SCC, most of the team members are on the team because they thoroughly enjoy learning something new.
“I like learning new information,” said first-year team member Holly Bridges, a graduate of East Lawrence High School and a nursing major. “We answer all types of questions, including pop culture. Intelligence is not skin-deep.”
Bridges’ teammates include Chris Russell from Red Bay High School, Dylan Mansell from Russellville High School and team captain, Brady Petree from Tharptown High School, Alyssa Hutcheson from Red Bay High School and Evelyn Swinney from Vina High School. These students are coached by former NW-SCC College Bowl member Sharon Watson, who has taught math at the college for 20 years.
“I teach math, but I felt like I had areas that I did not know about,” said Watson about why she decided to coach the team. “I feel like, as an educated person, you need to have a broad range of knowledge. I love it when the students beat me. I enjoy seeing them learn. They are a great group of students. They're fun to go on trips with, and they get along.”
The team practices an hour-and-a-half two days a week at the Phil Campbell campus to prepare for their upcoming tournaments. For each practice, each team member is to prepare and bring at least five questions with them to ask their teammates.
“I like making questions, because it's a great way to improve your knowledge,” said Russell, who is studying computer science.
This year’s team already has a couple of tournaments under their belts, but they have a few more before the end of the school year. Although NW-SCC has hosted some tournaments in the past, this year the entire schedule consists of traveling to other colleges.
“It's fun going to see all the different colleges,” said Swinney, who is studying psychology and serving her second term on the team.
The team’s first tournament of the year took place in Gulf Shores, where they competed against teams from fourteen colleges in states such as Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. During the tournament, these fourteen teams were divided into two pools. The competition set-up was similar to a high school scholars bowl setting with buzzers, a four-member team and only two teams competing at a time.
Questions are asked at random and come from the National Academic Quiz Tournaments, LLC. When a team receives a toss-up question, they are allowed to work together on the answer. Although each question equals a certain amount of points, five points can be lost if a person buzzes in too early and answers the question wrong.
“I try to tell the team to get at least one negative a day,” said Watson. “I have had people on previous teams hold back, but I tell them to just go for it.”
The tournament began at 9 a.m. and lasted for about six hours. The team played eleven rounds.
“The team did well enough in the first pool to be in the top pool,” said Watson. ”They made it to the playoff round.”
Due to some delays in scoring, the team is still waiting for individual and team results from the competition.
Although the team members spend a lot of time practicing and competing in tournaments, many of them also serve their school in other roles. Petree, who is studying secondary education, is a NW-SCC ambassador. Hutcheson, who is pursuing a degree in agriscience education, is president of the Student Government Association.
For most of this year’s team members, this will be their last year to take part in Scholars Bowl. During the spring term, Watson will begin selecting four or five new members for the 2016-2017 team. In order to be a part of the team, the student must try out for a position.
“Students interested may contact me to set up an interview,” said Watson. “They will also have to complete a general knowledge multiple choice test.”
Possible new members will get a chance to sit in on one of the team’s practices and answer some questions with the team.
“Do not be afraid to try out,” said Petree, who will return next year. “The worst they can tell you is no.”
