Rotary Program: 2/11/04

Program Chairperson: Jeanne Clark, Instructor - Pikeville High School

Speaker(s): Academic Coaches Johnny Belcher of Pikeville High School and Gina Ray of Pike Central High School.

Coaches Johnny Belcher and Gina Ray brought the Academic Quick Recall Teams from Pikeville High School and Pike Central High School to give us a demonstration of what it is like to be in a real competition. Throughout the year-long season, the teams may compete in five to ten tournaments before going on to the state-level to compete for the coveted “Governor’s Cup” which is awarded to the number one Academic Team in the state. The tournaments include tests in English Composition, History, Science and Math as well as essays in Future Problem Solving and the Quick Recall Competition. Last year, Pikeville’s team brought home the Governor’s Cup in Quick Recall. For that honor they were awarded an automatic bid to the National Tournament hosted by the Panasonic Corporation. To illustrate how the tournaments are held, the teams assembled at the head table in teams of four each. To honor the Rotary colors, one team was the Blue Team and the other was the Gold Team. After 50 questions were read by Jeanne Clark, the Gold Team won by a score of 29 to 12. The Gold Team consisted of Eric Blair and Donnie Keathley of Pikeville and Braden Blankenship and Shawn Reynolds of Pike Central. The Blue team was manned by Faraz Jeelani and Ryan Altman of Pikeville and Justin Howard and Nathan Mills of Pike Central. Other members of the Pikeville team present today were Chase Childers, Sam Keathley, Ben Stewart and Saul Wright. Other members of the Pike Central team were Lucas O’Daniel, Branden Coleman and Kelly Coleman. This is Gina Ray’s first year as the Academic Coach at Pike Central where she teaches Integrated Social Sciences and Political Science. Johnny Belcher has coached the Academic Team for the past 7 years and teaches the Math Curriculum at Pikeville High School. It was clearly evident that both schools have extraordinarily intelligent students and dedicated coaches. We wish both much success in the 2004 season. Thanks coaches and students for making today’s program one of the most exciting we have had this year. Submitted by J. Morgan Chapman