Making Learning Fun: The Delco Hi-Q

By NADIA POZO
CS&T Staff Writer

You can feel the excitement running through the student body as they anxiously await the beginning of the match. This sporting event does not measure physical endurance, but intellectual strength. There are 21 teams with one goal: to win the Delco Hi-Q.

The Delaware County High School Academic Competition — known as Delco Hi-Q — is in its 55th season. According to the Delco Hi-Q director, Donna Zerby, it is the oldest competition of its kind in the United States with more than 20,000 student participants through the years and more than 1 million people attending the Hi-Q contests since 1948.

Delco Hi-Q is a series of unique contests showcasing over 200 academically talented students. The competitions are held during school hours bringing excitement and knowledge to the student body audience.

“In high schools there’s a lot of emphasize in sports and how well your kids do,” said Sister Lucy Marie, the Hi-Q faculty advisor for the Cardinal O’Hara High School team. “This is another way to bring forth another group who excel in a different way.”

Contestants use their mental ability and quick thinking to answer questions within 15 seconds. There are 14 categories including American history and government, Asian and African art history, Central and South American geography, world history focusing on Asia and Africa, current events and literature, in addition to biology, chemistry, physics, and math.

“The contest is made up of questions that are considered junior, senior or Advanced Placement material, so if a freshman or sophomore is on the team it is very impressive,” said Zerby.

Catholic teams from Monsignor Bonner High School, Cardinal O’Hara High School, and the Academy of Notre Dame De Namur have students who have been on the team since their freshmen or sophomore year. Carroll’s Mrs. Barbara Ryan has been the school’s Hi-Q team faculty advisor for 19 years.
For Daniel Russo, a senior at O’Hara and member of the Hi-Q team since his sophomore year, the Hi-Q competition has given him the opportunity to study the subjects he loves, such as Shakespeare and history, in more depth than he would in school.

“I have my normal summer reading list and then I have my Hi-Q list, but I don’t mind it. I enjoy it. I get to be involved in my school and I get to be involved in doing what I love. It’s like sports. You do a sport you really enjoy playing and that’s the same for all of us on the Hi-Q team,” said Russo.

Fellow contestant Teresa Nesbitt, a junior on the Notre Dame Academy’s team since her freshmen year, agrees.

“I think it’s really good because we learn a lot that we would normally not learn in school. I feel this contest is very important in enhancing our education,” said Nesbitt.

Notre Dame Academy’s Hi-Q faculty advisor, Sally Gallagher, believes the most important thing is not winning, but being involved in the competition and teaching her students teamwork.

“We want the girls to be competitive but to realize [that] they play for the team, not for the individual. For our team this year, I want to give a special praise to our seniors for their service. They have been wonderful role models,” said Gallagher.

The Catholic schools also serve as a witness at the competition.

“One way that we are able to witness at the Hi-Q is through prayer,” said Gallagher. “The majority of schools in the contest are public. We begin our assembly with a prayer. It’s a nice thing, It’s a real witness.”

O’Hara’s Sister Lucy Marie believes, “This is our opportunity to say that when you come to a Catholic school, you receive a really good education and can compete at a high level with the best.”

The Hi-Q academic competition was an innovative idea of Scott Paper Co. and began as a community relations program. The success of the program led Scott Paper to introduce the program in seven other states. Since the merger of Scott Paper with Kimberly-Clark Corp. in 1995, Kimberly-Clark Corporation-Chester Operations, has been the primary sponsor of the Delco Hi-Q, with the 21 area high schools.

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, through its nonprofit organization called the Delaware County Education Foundation, has encouraged the involvement of 15 additional community and corporate sponsors that have helped to continue Delco Hi-Q.

Jan. 6 kicked off the season that will end with a championship match at the end of the school year.

The community is encouraged to attend any Hi-Q contest by contacting the host school in advance for reserved seating.

To find out the season’s schedule or to find out how to support Delco Hi-Q contact Donna Zerby at (610) 399-4802.

Contact Nadia Pozo at (215) 956-4614 or npozo@adphila.org