Delco Hi-Q

Delco Hi-Q is an academic quiz competition in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1948.

History

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. "Hi" represented "High School" and "Q" represented "I.Q." The first prize in 1948 was a $1,000 "auditorium style" television set.

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 Corp. in 1997, Kimberly-Clark Corporation-Chester Operations, became the primary sponsor and the twenty-one area high schools began financially contributing to the program. The Delaware County Education Foundation was established to help continue the program. Donna Zerby remained as director.

In 2004, the Delaware County Education Foundation merged with The Foundation of the Delaware County Chamber. At that time the Chamber Foundation and the Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU) agreed to become joint sponsors of the program. DCIU provided program and production management and the Foundation was responsible for the awards ceremony and fund raising.

Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union joined Delco Hi-Q as a primary corporate sponsor in 2004 and has made a long-term commitment to strengthen and sponsor the program and the Partners in Education Celebration.

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

Contest Information

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.

Based primarily on the content of standard high school courses. General scholastic knowledge that the students can be expected to have acquired at school or elsewhere. Guidelines and/or specific reference material are provided when the category is not usually a standard high school course. In Standard season competition, there are three rounds: Each team plays once in each round. Three teams compete on stage in each contest. The total cumulative points each team earns in the three contests in which it competes determine standings. Total points determine entry into the Semifinal Round and Championship Match.

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.

Awards

In the 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 2009/2010 Season Rick Durante of Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union serves as Director, Tom McCarthy is Quizmaster, Michelle Skrobak is Hi-Q Assistant, Wes Crane is Hi-Q Coordinator and production engineer is Dave Bramble from Delaware County Intermediate Unit.

In addition to the participating schools’ support, primary corporate sponsor is Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union. Valedictorian sponsor is Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Contributors and supporters for the 2008/2009 season are the Delaware County Daily Times.

Finalists 1949-2013[1]

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 Unknown 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 or Marple Newtown High School Marple Newtown High School or Chester High School
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 or Darby-Colwyn* Lansdowne-Aldan* Darby-Colwyn* or Radnor High School
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 [2] 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

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

References

  1. "Finalists 1949-Present". Delaware County Hi-Q. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  2. "Penncrest clinches first place in Hi-Q contest, will host championship". DelcoNewsNetwork.com. Delco News Netowrk. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
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