HOLYOKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 57 Suffolk Street - Holyoke, Massachusetts 01040 Tel. (413) 534-2005 Fax. (413) 534-3730 Dr. Sergio Páez, Superintendent of Schools Judy Taylor, Web and Print Communications Director PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2015 Holyoke High School’s ‘As Schools Match Wits’ Team Wins Championship The Holyoke Public Schools is thrilled to announce that Holyoke High School’s ‘As Schools Match Wits’ Team has won the championship. Forty eight teams competed this year, with Holyoke competing against Longmeadow High School in the Championship round. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sergio Páez stated, "This historic event is a testimony of the amazing work taking place in our district every day. These students represent the spirit of our school district. We are thankful for this very important accomplishment; the students have made us extremely proud!" The championship team was awarded the prestigious Collamore Cup and brought home the award winning plaque that is displayed in the entrance hallway of Holyoke High School. “’As Schools Match Wits’ showcases the best and brightest high school students that western New England has to offer, allowing them to shine in a venue which celebrates learning,” according to WGBY’s website. Holyoke High School Team members include the following students: Nick Edwards (senior), Brendan Kelly (senior and valedictorian), Emma Price (junior), Patrick Morrison (freshman); Alternates: Maggie Brady (junior), Joey Cavanaugh (freshman), Eric Pasternak (senior). The team members attended weekly practices after school to prepare for the competitions. Faculty members Kevin Bechard, Kate Quirk-Hebert, and Mark Todd are the team coaches. Principal Stephen Sullivan indicated, “We are very proud of our ‘As Schools Match Wits’ team and the first championship in Holyoke High School history. But, I am equally, if not more, proud of the way the members of the team represented our school and community. I have heard from administrators, teachers and parents from other schools who participated and/or witnessed this journey, and they have all told me how proud we should be of these students….and we are!” ‘As Schools Match Wits’ is an academic quiz show that hosts high school student teams from Western New England. It was created in 1961 by Leonard J. Collamore and is produced by Westfield State University and WGBY-TV. Students compete to accumulate points for answering questions in the following categories: Arts & Entertainment, Literature, Math & Science, General Knowledge (includes sports), Social Studies (includes civics, geography, etc.), World Events (history & current events). The championship match can be viewed at http://video.wgby.org/video/2365511772/. For more information, please contact Judy Taylor at 413-493-1605. “A community working together to prepare our students for their future” .