Dart Foundation - In the News - Academic Olympics

Competition Is Fierce as Scholars Compete in Education Foundation’s Academic Olympics

by Cindy L. Kaiser/Education Foundation of Sarasota County, Inc

SARASOTA, FL—The players are in top condition and the coaches are primed to lead their teams onto the field, but they’re wielding graphing calculators and buzzers instead of bats and balls. It’s Academic Olympics season across the country, and in Sarasota County the series kicks off on January 8th with intramural matches between eight local high schools.

The Education Foundation of Sarasota County, Inc produces the series in partnership with the schools, the American Association of University Women, the Military Officers Association of Sarasota and other local sponsors.

The college bowl-style competition is the only program for area high schools that provides the opportunity for competitive team efforts in academics comparable to athletics. The competition begins with matches at local high schools on Tuesday, January 8th. There will be seven days of “round robin” competitions with matches every Tuesday through February 19th. Matches begin at 3:30 PM and the public is welcome. Schools require check-in at the main office if classes are in session.

The young Olympians are some of Sarasota County’s most academically talented students. Each has earned a place on his or her school team through a rigorous competition at the school level. Eight teams are set to compete, including a team from each of the public high schools in Sarasota County – Booker, North Port, Pine View, Riverview, Sarasota, Venice and Sarasota Military Academy – and Cardinal Mooney High School.

The daylong finals take place on Saturday, March 1st beginning at 7:30 AM. Teams will be seeded for the finals according to the results of the “round robin” competition. There will be seven games throughout the day with a lunch break from noon to 12:30 PM. Presentation of first–place and second–place awards are scheduled to begin after the 5:00 PM game concludes at approximately 6:30 PM.

In April, Sarasota County’s Academic Olympic All-Star Team selected by the team coaches advances to the Florida Education Commissioner’s Academic Challenge in Orlando. Over the years, members of the Sarasota County teams have won scholarships and competed nationally with Team Florida.

The Sarasota and Venice branches of the American Association University Women enthusiastically support the program as monitors, judges, and moderators for the matches. The Military Officers Association of Sarasota generously donates the prizes awarded to the competitors. Elizabeth Bloechl serves as the Academic Olympics program director for the eleventh consecutive year. The Olympic Gold Sponsor of the Academic Olympics is the Dart Foundation. The Olympic Silver Sponsor is UPS.

Dedicated to quality education for all children, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County is an independent, not-for-profit organization that works in partnership with the community and Sarasota County public schools. With the support of individuals, families, companies and foundations, the Education Foundation awards more than $1,100,000 each year to initiatives including the TeXcellence Home Computer program, classroom grants, academic competitions, fine arts programs, cutting edge technology, and educational leadership. For more information about the Education Foundation and the Extra Edge of Excellence it provides to the children in Sarasota County public schools, visit EdFoundation.net or call 941-927-0965.