The J. Frank White Academy (JFWA) Academic Team showcased their intellectual prowess by clinching the second position in the highly competitive East Tennessee Regional National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT) tournament held on January 27 in Dandridge, Tennessee.
Eight students from JFWA participated in this challenging event, held in a round-robin format with 20 toss-up questions and the possibility of three additional bonus questions for each toss-up. The team, comprised of Shashi Verma, Troy Ellison, Van Nickerson, Steven Ray, Tyler Nickerson, Eren Gromley, Eva Gromley, and Julianna Swain, demonstrated exceptional teamwork and skill throughout the tournament. The Academic Team is coached by faculty sponsor Bill Kobus.
The final round of competition was thrilling, with JFWA facing Maryville, both entering the round undefeated. Maryville secured victory, making JFWA the runners-up in the East Tennessee Regional NAQT tournament. This marks an improvement from their third-place finish in the same event last year.
JFWA's second-place finish also qualifies the team for the 2024 Small School National Championship in Chicago this April, enhancing the Academy’s reputation as a formidable force in academic competitions.
Individual recognition adds another layer of achievement to JFWA's success, with Verma claiming the top spot for the highest average points per game and Ellison securing the fourth position. These rankings underscore the exceptional talent and dedication of the individual team members.
In addition to their performance in the NAQT tournament, JFWA's Academic Teams participated in the PBS Scholar’s Bowl last fall. Team A triumphed over West Ridge, Carter High School, and L&N STEM Academy before facing Science Hill High School in a hard-fought match. The matches will be broadcast on PBS during February and March.
Viewers can catch JFWA’s Team A matches on the following dates:
Friday, 2/16/2024: J Frank White A vs West Ridge B
Monday, 3/11/2024: Carter vs J Frank White A
Friday, 3/22/2024: J Frank White A vs L&N STEM
Thursday, 3/28/2024: J Frank White A vs Science Hill A
The J. Frank White Academy is a private, college preparatory day school serving grades Pre-K through 12 on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University. JFWA is fully accredited and STEM certified by Cognia, the first internationally recognized mark of quality for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) schools and programs, signaling the growing emphasis on STEM education by educators, politicians and business leaders around the world. For more information contact JFWA at 423.869.6234 or visit our website at JFWA.LMUnet.edu.
