Delco Hi-Q, formerly Scott's Hi-Q, or just Hi-Q is an academic quiz competition. It was founded in 1948 (76 years ago) (1948), and is now an intracounty competition of high school students in six different states: Pennsylvania (Delco Hi-Q); and in Wisconsin, Michigan, Washington, and Alabama as Hi-Q.

Delco Hi-Q
FormerlyScott's Hi-Q
GenreAcademic Quiz Competition
HeadquartersDelaware County, Pennsylvania,
Key people
Robert O. Johnson (First Quizmaster)

History

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Delco Hi-Q is the oldest continuous academic quiz competition in the United States. It was started as radio quiz program for high school students in Delaware County, Pennsylvania by the Scott Paper Company, which ran it as a community relations program. "Hi" represented "High School" and "Q" represented "I.Q." The first prize in 1948 was a $1,000 "auditorium style" television set. Robert O. Johnson served as the first Quizmaster. During the early years of Hi-Q, contests were broadcast on radio station WPWA 1590.

Questions were designed to test the general knowledge that students received in the classroom. Over the years, new reference materials were added and students began to answer questions based on specific categories and reference works.

Teams were initially composed of four students for each school; teams were subsequently expanded to six students and then to the current eight-member team. Drawn from three elements, SCOTT, High School, and I.Q., the program was known from the beginning as Scott's Hi-Q. The success of Scott's Hi-Q in Delaware County led Scott Paper to introduce the program across the country. Hi-Q National Director, Donna Zerby, helped the competition expand in 1976 to Washington State, in 1977 to Wisconsin/Michigan, in 1982 to Maine, in 1984 to Arkansas, and in 1987 to Alabama.

After the merger of Scott Paper with Kimberly-Clark in 1997, the program was turned over to longtime director, Donna Zerby. She partnered with the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce to provide stable funding for the program. Kimberly-Clark Corporation-Chester Operations became the primary corporate sponsor and the twenty-one area high schools began financially contributing to the program. Other sponsors and supporters began contributing. Donna Zerby also continued her involvement with Hi-Q on a national level, serving as an independent consultant to those locations. The Delaware County program dropped the Scott Paper name and renamed the program Delco Hi-Q.

Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU) and The Foundation of the Delaware County Chamber entered into a joint sponsorship agreement in 2004 to co-sponsor Delco Hi-Q. DCIU is responsible for providing a Quizmaster, Program Director, as well as the technical services needed to run and manage the program. The Foundation is responsible for soliciting contributions for the program, collecting entrance fees, administering funds, supplies, and conducts the annual awards ceremony. Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union joined Kimberly-Clark as a primary corporate sponsor in 2004 with an initial five year, $75,000 commitment.

Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union [1] joined Delco Hi-Q as a primary corporate sponsor in 2004 and made a long-term commitment to strengthen and sponsor the program and the Partners in Education Celebration. DCIU and Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union started the Delco Hall of Honor in the same year. Its purpose is to honor past participants and supporters and to provide role models for current Hi-Q participants Another new tradition began in 2005, DCIU and FMFCU partnered with the Delaware County Daily Times to start the tradition of the All Delco Hi-Q Team. Donna Zerby was the first inductee into the Hall of Honor and considered it the greatest honor of her career.

The Partners in Education Celebration was started in 2005. What was once a luncheon honoring the three top teams, became a 600-person banquet honoring all of the Delco Hi-Q participants. The dinner is held annually and is presented by the Foundation and DCIU. Alex Trebek served as the guest speaker and 6ABC's Action News anchor Rick Williams was master of ceremonies for the first celebration.

After the passing of Donna in 2005, Ginger Beaumont agreed to serve as director for the 2005/06 season. Ginger had previously spent six years coordinating the Delaware County program under the direction of Mrs. Zerby. The 2005/06 season was dedicated in memory of Donna and her 42-year association with Hi-Q.

In 2006, Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union signed an agreement with DCIU to provide question resources and Program Directors to Delco Hi-Q. Ginger Beaumont remained with Hi-Q and serves as Co-Director with Rick Durante of FMFCU.FMFCU Foundation provides question resources to all locations.

In 2008, Delaware County Intermediate Unit and Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union became co-sponsors of the program. Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union Foundation manages the program.

Hi-Q competitions still take place in Washington, Wisconsin, Alabama, and Pennsylvania, each with different sponsoring organizations. In 1979, Tom McCarthy began his 39-season run as Quizmaster. Rick Durante, Executive Director Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union Foundation, now serves as Quizmaster and Director of the competition.[1]

Contest Information

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Twenty-one Delaware County high schools participate in Delco Hi-Q.

Each school team is composed of up to ten students. Each school hosts one contest during the standard season.

Questions are prepared from 14 subjects, including: Art History, Biology, Chemistry, Current Events, Geography, Literature, Mathematics, Physics, Shakespeare, Sports, U.S. Government, U.S. History, and World History. Questions are selected from standard high school scholastic curricula, general scholastic knowledge, or from reference materials provided.

Each high school team competes in three matches each season, excluding possible semi-final and championship appearances. Each match consists of three competing teams. Each match is hosted by one of the participating teams competing in that match. Matches are typically held in the high school auditorium on stage, before an audience of students, teachers, faculty, and community members. Questions are read aloud by the Quizmaster, and at times team members use buzzers to answer questions. Points awarded throughout the season accumulate and determine semi-final and championship entry eligibility.

The highest-scoring team at the end of the regular season automatically becomes a participant in the Championship Match and does not compete in the Semifinals. The Semifinal Round is a six-team competition. From points accumulated during the regular season, the second highest-scoring team will play teams in positions six and seven. The third highest-scoring team will play teams in positions four and five. In the single-contest Championship Match, the two semifinal winners compete against the highest-scoring team from the standard season. All teams start at zero in the semifinal and the championship match.

Delco Hi-Q participants are honored at the annual "Partners in Education" dinner in May. Guest speakers have included celebrities such as Alex Trebek, Ken Jennings, and John Allen Paulos.

Awards

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In the Delco Hi-Q Championship Match, first, second and third place teams win cash awards for their schools of $3,000, $2,500 and $2,000 respectively.

A revolving trophy is presented annually to the Champion for display by that school throughout the next season. A permanent award is also presented to the top school. Individually engraved plaques are awarded to each school. Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union and Kimberly-Clark Corporation Chester Operations sponsor awards for each team.

The Partners in Education Celebration was started in 2005. What was once a luncheon honoring the three top teams, became a 600-person banquet honoring all of the Delco Hi-Q participants. The dinner is held annually and is presented by the Foundation and DCIU. Jeopardy host Alex Trebek served as the guest speaker and 6ABC's Action News anchor Rick Williams was master of ceremonies for the first celebration.

DCIU and Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union started the Delco Hall of Honor in the same year. Its purpose is to honor past participants and supporters and to provide role models for current Hi-Q participants Another new tradition began in 2005, DCIU and FMFCU partnered with the Delaware County Daily Times to start the tradition of the All Delco Hi-Q Team. Donna Zerby was the first inductee into the Hall of Honor and considered it the greatest honor of her 42-year Hi-Q career.

After the passing of Donna in 2005, Ginger Beaumont agreed to serve as director for the 2005/06 season. Mrs. Beaumont had previously spent six years coordinating the Delaware County program under the direction of Mrs. Zerby. The 2005/06 season was dedicated in memory of Donna and her 42-year association with Hi-Q. The revolving championship trophy was renamed the "Donna Zerby Trophy."

In 2006, Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union signed an agreement with DCIU to provide question resources and Program Directors to Delco Hi-Q. Ginger Beaumont remained with Hi-Q and served as Co-Director with Rick Durante of FMFCU until 2007.

In 2008, Delaware County Intermediate Unit and Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union became co-sponsors of the program.

As of the 2018/19 Season Rick Durante of Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union serves as Director and Quizmaster, Danielle Griffin is Assistant Director, and production engineer is Dave Bramble from Delaware County Intermediate Unit.

In addition to the participating schools’ support, primary corporate sponsors are Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union and the Wilbur C. and Betty Lea Henderson Foundation [2] Valedictorian sponsor is Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Contributors and supporters for the 2008/2009 season are the Delaware County Daily Times.

Finalists 1949–2024

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The first-, second-, and third-place finalists from 1949 to 2024 are as follows:[3]

Year First place Second place Third place
1949 Media* Swarthmore* Collingdale*
1950 Upper Darby High School Media* Swarthmore*
1951 Upper Darby High School Swarthmore* Media*
1952 Swarthmore* Nether Providence* Upper Darby High School
1953 Sharon Hill* Saint James* Swarthmore*
1954 Swarthmore* and Nether Providence* (tie) Chester High School
1955 Upper Darby High School Haverford High School Lansdowne-Aldan*
1956 Swarthmore* Springfield High School Nether Providence*
1957 Lansdowne-Aldan* and Swarthmore* (tie) Chester High School
1958 Upper Darby High School Chester High School Swarthmore*
1959 Upper Darby High School Interboro High School Penncrest High School
1960 Swarthmore* Upper Darby High School Ridley High School
1961 Penncrest High School Eddystone* Upper Darby High School
1962 Upper Darby High School Penncrest High School Springfield High School
1963 Haverford High School Swarthmore* Upper Darby High School
1964 Penncrest High School Haverford High School Springfield High School
1965 Haverford High School Lansdowne-Aldan* Radnor High School
1966 Swarthmore* Marple Newtown High School Penncrest High School
1967 Haverford High School Radnor High School Interboro High School
1968 Haverford High School Chichester High School Interboro High School
1969 Haverford High School Radnor High School Upper Darby High School
1970 Upper Darby High School Chester High School and Marple Newtown High School (Tie)
1971 Upper Darby High School Chester High School Radnor High School
1972 Marple Newtown High School Springfield High School Upper Darby High School
1973 Upper Darby High School Haverford High School Nether Providence*
1974 Haverford High School Collingdale* Lansdowne-Aldan*
1975 Radnor High School Lansdowne-Aldan* Darby-Colwyn*
1976 Radnor High School Marple Newtown High School Upper Darby High School
1977 Swarthmore* Radnor High School Garnet Valley High School
1978 Garnet Valley High School Swarthmore* Radnor High School
1979 Cardinal O'Hara High School Haverford High School Marple Newtown High School
1980 Swarthmore* Cardinal O'Hara High School Monsignor Bonner High School
1981 Haverford High School Swarthmore* Garnet Valley High School
1982 Haverford High School Springfield High School Garnet Valley High School
1983 Nether Providence* Upper Darby High School Ridley High School
1984 Radnor High School Marple Newtown High School Springfield High School
1985 Springfield High School Radnor High School Penncrest High School
1986 Radnor High School Springfield High School Haverford High School
1987 Penncrest High School Radnor High School Garnet Valley High School
1988 Radnor High School Springfield High School Haverford High School
1989 Radnor High School Marple Newtown High School Cardinal O'Hara High School
1990 Penncrest High School Radnor High School Ridley High School
1991 Radnor High School Penncrest High School Springfield High School
1992 Radnor High School Penncrest High School Upper Darby High School
1993 Radnor High School Monsignor Bonner High School Strath Haven High School
1994 Penncrest High School Radnor High School Cardinal O'Hara High School
1995 Upper Darby High School Radnor High School Delaware County Christian School
1996 Radnor High School Haverford High School Penncrest High School
1997 Haverford High School Penncrest High School Marple Newtown High School
1998 Radnor High School Penncrest High School Garnet Valley High School
1999 Penncrest High School Garnet Valley High School Upper Darby High School
2000 Penncrest High School Garnet Valley High School Radnor High School
2001 Garnet Valley High School Penncrest High School Marple Newtown High School
2002 Garnet Valley High School Marple Newtown High School Penncrest High School
2003 Penncrest High School Garnet Valley High School Marple Newtown High School
2004 Marple Newtown High School Penncrest High School Garnet Valley High School
2005 Strath Haven High School Penncrest High School Garnet Valley High School
2006 Marple Newtown High School Garnet Valley High School Delaware County Christian School
2007 Marple Newtown High School Penncrest High School Garnet Valley High School
2008 Marple Newtown High School Radnor High School Penncrest High School
2009 Penncrest High School Haverford High School Radnor High School
2010 Penncrest High School Garnet Valley High School Haverford High School
2011 Garnet Valley High School Penncrest High School Chichester High School
2012 Garnet Valley High School Penncrest High School Delaware County Christian School
2013 Penncrest High School[4] Haverford High School Marple-Newtown High School
2014 Garnet Valley High School Penncrest High School Strath Haven High School
2015 Penncrest High School Haverford High School Garnet Valley High School
2016 Garnet Valley High School Penncrest High School Sun Valley High School
2017 Haverford High School Radnor High School Garnet Valley High School
2018 Haverford High School Garnet Valley High School Delaware County Christian School
2019 Garnet Valley High School Radnor High School Delaware County Christian School
2020 Garnet Valley High School Radnor High School Haverford High School
2021 Delaware County Christian School Haverford High School Garnet Valley High School
2022 Haverford High School Garnet Valley High School Marple Newtown High School
2023 Garnet Valley High School Radnor High School Delaware County Christian School
2024 Delaware County Christian School Garnet Valley High School Radnor High School

*The champion schools no longer participate in Hi-Q because of school mergers.

Washington State Hi-Q

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Hi-Q competitions occur in Washington State, run and sponsored by Everett Community College. Currently, there are nine teams, classified by their size and athletic districts. Matches follow the same format as the Delco Hi-Q team, and Washington state champions participate in a national championship, between Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Alabama.

Everett Community College is the primary sponsor for the program in the Everett Region. The program also receives support from local community groups, businesses, and foundations. Additionally, participating schools contribute toward the program's funding. The Hi-Q Regional Coordinator from Everett Community College manages the program to meet objectives and ensure a positive experience for the students.

In 2012 Everett Community College dropped its funding for the Hi-Q program, but local schools have adopted the program. The program is now headed by Monroe High School. Participating schools as of October 2012 include Lynnwood High School, Edmonds Woodway High School, Henry M. Jackson High School, Archbishop Murphy High School, Stanwood High School, Meadowdale High School, Mountlake Terrace High School, Marysville Pilchuck High School, Marysville Getchell High School.

The 2020 champion was Archbishop-Murphy High School.[5]

Wisconsin/Michigan Hi-Q

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Wisconsin/Michigan Hi-Q is a high school academic quiz competition in northeastern Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula Michigan. Eighteen local high school teams compete in annual seasons consisting of three rounds of regular season competition. Hi-Q was started by the Scott Paper Company in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and has since expanded to include Wisconsin/Michigan, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Alabama.

Eighteen high school teams each compete in three regular season rounds, each team hosting one match. After three rounds, the cumulative points for each team's three rounds of competition are used to determine a team's ranking. The top two teams automatically qualify for the finals rounds, while the third, fourth, and fifth place teams each participate in one semi-finals round hosted by the third place school. The winner of that match then proceeds to face the first and second place teams in two finals rounds, one at the first place school and another at the second place school. The winner is the regional champion and from there moves into the National Championship round against schools from Pennsylvania, Alabama, and Washington.

Wisconsin/Michigan Hi-Q is currently sponsored by Farmers and Merchants Bank and Trust in Marinette and University of Wisconsin-Marinette. Just before the 2018-2019 season, the Kimberly-Clark Corporation announced that it would no longer sponsor the academic competition. Thomas Maxwell, current Vice President of Farmers and Merchants, has promised to cover all new costs due to this lost sponsor.

The eighteen high schools that compete in Wisconsin/Menominee Hi-Q encompass Florence, Marinette and Oconto counties of Wisconsin, and also Menominee and Dickinson counties of Upper Peninsula Michigan. The member schools include:

These are the past regional finalists for Wisconsin/Michigan Hi-Q from 1977 to present.

Year Regional Champion 2nd 3rd
1977 Oconto Falls St. Thomas Aquinas Marinette
1978 Marinette St. Thomas Aquinas Menominee
1979 St. Thomas Aquinas Oconto Menominee
1980 Coleman Marinette Oconto Falls
1981 St. Thomas Aquinas Lena Coleman
1982 Coleman Marinette Oconto Falls
1983 Marinette St. Thomas Aquinas Oconto
1984 Marinette St. Thomas Aquinas Niagara
1985 Coleman St. Thomas Aquinas Crivitz
1986 Crivitz Menominee Marinette
1987 Coleman Crivitz Wausaukee
1988 St. Thomas Aquinas Menominee Peshtigo
1989 Crivitz Coleman Wausaukee
1990 Marinette Crivitz Menominee
1991 Crivitz Wausaukee Marinette
1992 Marinette Peshtigo Menominee
1993 Marinette Coleman St. Thomas Aquinas
1994 Marinette Peshtigo Menominee
1995 Peshtigo Marinette Menominee
1996 Marinette Peshtigo Wausaukee
1997 Marinette Peshtigo Wausaukee
1998 Peshtigo Marinette St. Thomas Aquinas
1999 St. Thomas Aquinas Peshtigo Marinette
2000 Marinette Peshtigo Faith Baptist*
2001 Peshtigo Marinette St. Thomas Aquinas
2002 Peshtigo Marinette Gillett
2003 Crivitz Marinette Faith Baptist*
2004 Gillett Marinette Peshtigo
2005 Peshtigo Marinette Beecher/Dunbar/Pembine
2006 Gillett Marinette Peshtigo
2007 Marinette Oconto Falls Peshtigo
2008 Marinette Wausaukee Suring
2009 Peshtigo Suring Menominee
2010 Menominee Wausaukee Crivitz
2011 Wausaukee Menominee Oconto Falls
2012 Menominee Wausaukee Gillett
2013 Menominee Marinette Wausaukee
2014 Gillett Menominee Oconto Falls
2015 Menominee Oconto Falls Marinette
2016 Peshtigo Marinette Menominee
2017 Peshtigo Marinette Oconto
2018 Oconto Marinette Gillett
2019 Marinette Gillett Oconto
  • The schools marked with an asterisk(*) are those that do not participate in Wisconsin/Michigan Hi-Q anymore.

National Competition

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The first National Competition took place in 1981.[6] Teams representing Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and Washington State competed in person in a series of matches held in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The winner was Haverford High School. There would not be another national championship for thirty years.

National Competition resumed in 2011 and has continued to the present with the exception of the years 2013 and 2014 where no national competition was held. The Championship consists of a single match that is done via teleconference. The Wisconsin/Michigan regional championship competes in this at the UW-Green Bay-Marinette campus. Championship rounds are usually held in early April each year. The Pennsylvania champion often has also been the winners of the national competition, a streak that was broken in 2021 thanks to the heavily favored Baker High School team edging out a victory[7] over the Thom Houghton-coached Delaware County Christian School, who won their first ever Delco championship since Hi-Q began in 1949 (first win in school history).

Champion 2nd 3rd 4th
2011 Wausaukee, Wisconsin Garnet Valley High School, Pennsylvania Alma Bryant High School, Alabama Monroe, Washington
2012 Menominee, Michigan Garnet Valley High School, Pennsylvania Alma Bryant High School, Alabama Archbishop Murphy High School, Washington
2013 No National Competition Held
2014 No National Competition Held
2015 Penncrest High School, Pennsylvania McGill–Toolen Catholic High School, Alabama Menominee, Michigan Arlington High School, Washington
2016 Garnet Valley High School, Pennsylvania Peshtigo, Wisconsin Henry M. Jackson High School, Washington None
2017 Haverford High School, Pennsylvania Davidson High School, Mobile, Alabama Peshtigo, Wisconsin Monroe, Washington
2018 Haverford High School, Pennsylvania Stanwood High School, Washington Davidson High School, Mobile, Alabama Oconto High School, Wisconsin
2019[8] Garnet Valley High School, Pennsylvania Alma Bryant High School, Alabama Stanwood High School, Washington Marinette High School, Wisconsin
2021 Baker High School, Alabama Delaware County Christian School, Pennsylvania Marysville Getchell High School, Washington None
2023 Garnet Valley High School, Pennsylvania Crivitz High School, Wisconsin Baker High School, Alabama Monroe, Washington
2024 Delaware County Christian School, Pennsylvania Monroe High School, Washington Gillett High School, Wisconsin Murphy High School, Alabama

References

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  1. ^ "Delco Hi-Q".
  2. ^ "Corporate Social Responsibility – the Henderson Group".
  3. ^ "Finalists 1949-Present". Delaware County Hi-Q. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Penncrest clinches first place in Hi-Q contest, will host championship". DelcoNewsNetwork.com. Delco News Network. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  5. ^ press release from Hi-Q coordinator
  6. ^ Hildebrand, Scott (5 May 1981). "Marinette students 3rd in quiz bowl". Green Bay, Wisconsin: Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 26. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  7. ^ Patel, Jaysha (2021-04-16). "Baker High Schools Hi-Q team wins national championship". WPMI. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  8. ^ Durante, Rick. "Garnet Valley Wins National Hi-Q Championship". FMFCU Foundation. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
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  • [2] Delco Hi-Q
  • [3] Everett Washington Hi-Q
  • [4] Wisconsin Hi-Q