-Students from George Marshall... Gonzaga... and Banneker meet today on "It's Academic."

♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Hello, everyone.

I’m Hilary Howard.

Welcome to "It’s Academic," the world’s longest-running TV quiz show, produced by Altman Productions in association with David M. Rubenstein Productions.

-Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following... MITRE -- a not-for-profit research and development company working in the public interest.

-What happens when the right people connect, diversity challenges convention, mentors inspire greatness, and passions drive innovation?

from health to transportation and national security, cyber and AI to space and back, MITRE connects the power of government, academia, and industry to meet our nation’s challenges together.

MITRE connects.

♪♪ -Hello, everybody.

You know, we like to begin with a Fast Start, so let’s do it.

Questions in this round are worth 10 points up or down.

The first team to buzz in gets to answer.

And the students do not see what you do on the screens at home.

Let’s begin.

Nicknames.

Many historical figures have nicknames.

Please identify the following.

Yeah, George Marshall.

-Abraham Lincoln.

-That is right.

The "Little Corporal" was this French -- -Napoleon, -Yes, you’re right.

Banneker.

-Sacagawea.

-Yeah.

That’s it.

Gonzaga.

-Attila.

-Attila it is.

Yes.

George Marshall.

-Thatcher.

-Yes it is.

Marshall.

-Florence Nightingale.

-Yeah.

The answer is... Otto von Bismarck.

"The Wizard of Menlo Park," identified -- Gonzaga.

-Thomas Edison.

Correct.

Gonzaga.

Charles de Gaulle.

Correct again.

Marshall.

-Malcolm X.

-You are right.

And that’s the end of the round.

Nice job, everybody.

George Marshall 140 points, Gonzaga 140 points, and Banneker 110 points.

[ Applause ] Now, of course, we get to do the Mix & Match round.

But before we dive into the questions, we get to meet these students.

And we begin with George Marshall High School from Falls Church, Virginia.

Hey, Shrey, tell us about yourself.

-Hi, I’m Shrey.

I’m 17 years old, and I’m a junior at Marshall.

I like to do robotics and model UN.

-Nice.

And what is it that you like about model UN?

-They're so -- It’s really multifaceted.

So you get to improve on lots of skills while doing it.

-Beautiful.

Love it.

Hey, Rohan.

How you doing?

-I’m doing well.

-Good.

-I’m Rohan, I’m 16, and I’m a junior at Marshall High School and I like to do model UN and marching band.

-Oh, so you guys are on model UN together?

-Yeah.

-Our club is a little bit of a upstart right now.

We’re still rebuilding after COVID, so Rohan and I are kind of in charge of that.

-Yeah.

-Okay.

[ Chuckles ] Hello, Henry.

-Hello.

-What should we know about you?

-Uh, my name is Henry Tedesco.

I’m a junior at Marshall High School, and I run cross country for Marshall.

-Nice.

How far do you run?

-Uh, it depends, but usually around 8 miles.

-Alright, that’s a good distance.

-Yeah.

-Guys, I’ve got some questions for you.

And, of course, they’re worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

Feel, Listen, Act.

Act now and you can find in this phrase the name of what New York Island that for many years was a major immigration center.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Final answer.

Ellis.

-Yes, it is.

A college degree, a loan, an agreement.

If a friend were trying to get a consensus, he or she would be trying to get which of these?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Final answer, an agreement.

-Yeah.

Napa to Nut.

You would consult this volume of an old encyclopedia to learn about what Roman sea God?

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer?

In three, two, one... Neptune.

Nathan Hale, James Oglethorpe, Charles Pinckney.

Which of these men founded the state of Georgia as a refuge for debtors?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Final answer.

Oglethorpe.

-Oglethorpe.

It is.

"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."

This observation was made by what scientist who also observed that E equals MC squared.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Final answer.

Einstein.

-Yeah.

Nicely done.

George Marshall.

220 points.

[ Applause ] Off we go to Gonzaga from Washington, D.C. Hello, Peter.

-Hello.

-What’s up?

-Um, my name is Peter.

I’m a junior at Gonzaga.

I run cross country, I do trivia, and I’m a member of our science fair team.

-And what do you do on science fair?

-So we help low-income 8th graders perform science fairs, and we help them execute, create, and evaluate them.

-That’s wonderful.

So you must find that pretty enriching.

-It’s really.

It’s awesome.

I love doing it.

-Beautiful.

Hello, Luke.

-Hello, I’m Luke, I’m a senior at Gonzaga, and I row for our school’s crew team.

-That’s great.

Um, I used a scull.

-Yeah.

-But.

What?

It’s great being in the water.

-It's awesome.

-Like you’re a giant dragonfly.

[ Chuckles ] -Yeah.

-It’s good to have you.

-Hi, Paul.

-Hi.

My name is Paul.

I’m a sophomore at Gonzaga, and I also run cross country.

-Very nice.

And how far do you run?

-Um, our races are usually 5Ks.

-Alright, guys, here we go.

Push Art for Data.

No matter where you find data, see if you can find here the hidden name of what capital city of Connecticut?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Hartford, final answer.

-Yes.

Pleasant, Dreamlike, Lamentable.

If a person were in a deplorable situation, that situation might best be described by which of these words?

-Lamentable.

-Yes.

Hall to Hyksos.

You’d look in this volume of an old encyclopedia to read about what type of picture writing used in ancient Egypt.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Hieroglyphics.

-Yes.

Leif Erikson, Matthew Henson, Vasco Da Gama.

Which of these adventurers was the first European to reach India by sea?

-Da Gama.

-That’s right.

"The payment is part of the cure."

When psychiatrists bill their patients, they might include this statement attributed to what Viennese doctor who founded psychoanalysis?

-Oh, Freud?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Freud.

-Freud is right.

Nice.

Gonzaga 240 points.

[ Applause ] And now to Banneker High School from Washington, D.C. Hello, Mats.

What are you up to?

-Um, my name is Mats.

I’m a junior at Banneker, and I also run cross country and play soccer.

-Great.

Uh, you, same distance, like 5 to 8 or...?

-Yeah, 5Ks, mostly.

-Alright.

Great.

Hello, Alexander.

-Hi.

My name is Alex.

I’m a Banneker senior.

Uh, I do quiz bowl, and "It’s Academic" for the most part.

But in my downtime, I work at a congressional club.

-Tell us about that.

-Well, I meet a lot of members of Congress pretty often.

I help them.

Our club acts as kind of like a, uh, an evening ground so where they can relax, chat.

And so I help them relax for the most part.

-Alright.

Well, it’s great to have you.

-Of course.

-Hello, Oliver.

-Hello.

My name is Oliver Robert.

I’m 16 years old and a junior at Banneker High School.

And in my free time, I do fencing, and I go to the gym.

-Fencing, that must be cathartic.

-Uh, it’s -- It can be fun.

-Yeah.

Intellectually stimulating.

Right?

-Uh, it can be a lot on the brain, especially when you’re in tournaments.

It’s a lot of thinking and planning.

-Alright, well, let’s do some thinking.

Here’s your first question.

The Liberal Eight.

Whether you’re a liberal or conservative, see if you can find in this phrase the name of what capital city of North Carolina.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Raleigh.

-Yes.

Making peace, Increasing his power, security.

Of these three policies, which one would be the goal of a king concerned with aggrandizement?

-Making peace?

-I would say increasing power.

-Increasing power.

-Yeah.

Nice call.

Zebra to Zwingli.

This is the volume of an old encyclopedia that would provide information on what chief Greek god?

-Zeus?

-Zeus.

-Zeus is right.

George Custer, George Pickett, George McClellan.

Which of these three Georges, all of whom fought in the Civil War, was the Confederate general remembered for an ill-fated charge at Gettysburg?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Pickett.

-Yeah.

"His theory of germs is ridiculous fiction."

With these words, a 19th century professor dismissed the work of what French scientist who developed the process that makes milk safe to drink?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Pasteur?

-Yeah.

That’s right.

Nice team effort there, guys.

Banneker did a nice job.

210 points.

That’s it for the Mix & Match round.

Don’t go away.

We’re coming back.

[ Applause ] -I’m David Rubenstein.

From the Kennedy Center and the National Archives to the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, I’ve been pleased to support many important organizations and historic sites linked to American history, art, culture, education, and more.

I believe giving back to our country isn’t just an idea, it’s an action -- a patriotic action that involves all of us.

And it begins with education and learning about our nation’s past so that we, the people, can make a more perfect union for the future.

We can do it together.

Please read, learn, get involved and make a difference.

♪♪ [ Applause ] -Alright, it’s time for the Picture Perfect round where questions are worth 20 points up or down.

How are you guys feeling?

-Good?

-All: Good.

-Alright.

The nerves are gone now?

-Barely.

-[ Chuckles ] A little bit.

Okay, here we go with your first question.

Though they are over 2,000 miles from the Atlantic, These docks handle ocean-going freighters traveling what longest South American river?

Banneker.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Amazon.

-Yeah.

Leaves turn red in the fall, partly because of declining levels of what Pigment?

-Marshall.

-Chlorophyl.

-Correct.

This stamp honors President Andrew Johnson, who offered amnesty to those Confederates willing to support what number constitutional amendment that abolished slavery?

Marshall.

-13th.

-Yes.

Solve for X, giving your answer as a positive integer.

Marshall.

-Eight.

-Eight is right.

With a high metabolic rate that causes it to eat and drink almost nonstop, this is what tiny mammal in the title of a Shakespeare play?

Gonzaga.

-Shrew.

-Shrew is it.

"It is better to abolish serfdom from above than wait for it to abolish itself from below."

These are the words of what Russian czar who himself abolished serfdom in 1861?

Gonzaga.

-Alexander the second?

-Ooh, you got it.

Nice.

-Speak up.

-Located on the Dvina River, this is what capital city of Latvia?

Marshal.

-Riga.

-Yeah.

This sign was used in early chemistry to indicate what element, whose atomic number is 82 and whose symbol is Pb?

Yes.

Gonzaga.

-Lead.

-Lead it is.

And that is it for the Picture Perfect round.

Let’s take a look at these scores.

George Marshall 300 points.

Gonzaga 300 points.

Banneker 230 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] So now we’re going to meet the coaches.

How about that?

We begin with George Marshall from Falls Church.

Uh, Rohan, tell us about your coach.

-Um, our coach is Miss Campbell.

She helps us out a lot during practices.

And we really appreciate all the support she gives us.

And Mr. Litz shows us constant support throughout the year.

-Awesome.

And of course, we appreciate them being here.

So thank you guys.

Uh, Gonzaga, we turn it over to Luke.

-Yeah.

So today we have our coach, uh, Mr. Kilner.

And we’re just really appreciative for everything he does to support us.

-Alright.

Beautiful.

And over to Alexander from Banneker.

-Yeah, well, we have Doctor Kerr with us.

He’s been very, very, very helpful in reviving the quiz bowl team at our school.

"It’s Academic," gives me a place to really enjoy myself and learn in a way that’s not so in the classroom.

-Alright.

Awesome.

♪♪ Alright, so let’s dive into this Packet round.

Huh, guys?

You know how it works.

We’ve got these three lovely packets.

George Marshall, you will answer questions first.

And Gonzaga, which packet will they answer questions from?

-Uh, packet three.

-Packet three.

Alright.

Gonzaga.

You know, questions are worth 20 points.

Uh, nothing off for a wrong answer.

And if you get every question right, there is a 25-point bonus.

Yay!

Here we go.

It’s been over 50 years since what American astronaut became the first man to walk on the moon?

-Neil Armstrong, final answer.

-Yes.

"Humor is laughing at what you haven’t got" said what African-American poet whose first name was Langston?

-Hughes.

-Hughes.

-Final answer, Hughes.

-Yes.

Richard Lawrence, who attempted to assassinate President Andrew Jackson, was prosecuted by what district attorney, a man who had earlier written "The Star-Spangled Banner"?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Final answer, Key.

-Yes.

Here’s your science question.

Alcohol, water, iodine.

A tincture is a solution which will always have which of these as its solvent?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Water is the universal solvent.

-Yeah.

Uh, water.

Final answer.

-No.

It’s alcohol.

Only two justices dissented in 1857, when the US Supreme Court ruled against what slave who had sought his freedom?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Dred Scott.

-Yeah.

Here’s your next question.

There are 23 evil witches and 16 evil stepmothers in the fairy tales collected in the 19th century by what pair of German brothers?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Grimm.

-Yes, the Brothers Grimm.

Here’s your math question.

Taking positive square roots, reduce this expression.

Giving your answer as an integer.

-30.

-30.

Is right.

The end of the so-called US Banana Wars in Central America cleared the way in 1934 for the Good Neighbor policy put forth by what, 32nd president?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -FDR.

-FDR is right.

Nicely done.

George Marshall 440 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] Gonzaga, you are up.

Banneker, will it be packet one or packet two?

-Packet two.

-Packet two.

Gonzaga.

A collector, spent a fortune for one tooth, from what 17th to 18th century English scientist who had chewed on the idea of gravity after an apple fell on his head?

-Isaac Newton.

-Yeah.

Inventor Whitcomb Judson used the phrase "clasp locker and unlocker" to describe what Z-initialed device that’s found on clothing?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Zipper.

-Zipper it is.

If you invited a mathematician to dinner, you might serve what type of dessert which could be referred to mathematically as 3.1415?

-Pie.

-Yeah.

Here’s your science question.

Water reaches its maximum density before it freezes.

At which of these temperatures does it reach its maximum density?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Answer?

-4 degrees Celsius.

-You’re right.

18 US presidents served in office during the long reign of what 19th century British Queen?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Victoria.

-Yeah.

Originally thought to be a true story, what fictional man found himself stranded on a lonely island in a Daniel Defoe novel?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Robinson Crusoe?

-You are right.

Again.

Here’s your math question.

Two angles are complementary, and one angle is two times the other.

What is the measure of either angle?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -30 degrees.

-Yes, you’re right.

The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at Allegheny College has mementos of what famous member who would be elected our 25th president in 1896?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Answer?

Need one.

-Uh, Wilson.

-No.

-It’s McKinley, but you did a really nice job.

Gonzaga 440 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] And now the gentlemen from Banneker High School.

Guys, you had packet number one.

Here we go.

In the song "God Moves On The Water," Blues singer Blind Willie Johnson described the 1912 loss of what ocean liner that collided with an iceberg?

-Titanic.

-Titanic.

-Titanic is right.

The name of India’s capital, Delhi, is closely related to the Hindi word for what organ of the body that has auricles and ventricles?

-Answer.

-The heart?

-The heart.

-Yeah, it is the heart.

Nice.

19th century diplomats described Russia as what sort of large ursine animal still used by many cartoonists to symbolize Russia?

-Bear.

-Yeah.

Here’s your science question.

Ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, radio waves.

Which of these electromagnetic waves has the longest wavelength?

-Radio waves.

-You’re right.

A novel called "The Quest of the Silver Fleece" was written by what African-American activist whose first initials were W.E.B.?

-Dubois.

-Yes.

The first scene of what Shakespeare tragedy includes a sword fight between servants of the Capulet and Montague families?

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Romeo and Juliet.

-You’re right.

Here’s your math question.

Solve for X.

-Four?

-Nah, 25.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -The first president to marry during his terms in office was what 10th chief executive, who had succeeded to the presidency after the death of William Henry Harrison?

Want to just go for one?

Shout out to president.

-Grant.

-Nah, John Tyler, but good job.

Banneker 370 points.

That is it for the Packet round.

The Grab Bag round is next.

Stay with us.

[ Applause ] -Hello, I’m David Rubenstein.

Did you know that the Navy’s major landing craft in World War II was called a Higgins boat?

Its designer, Andrew Higgins, created the landing ramp that opened to let troops move out quickly.

I’m David Rubenstein reminding you to read, learn, get involved, and make a difference.

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -It is time for -- Do you want to say it with me, guys?

The -- -All: Grab Bag round!

-There you go.

In this round, questions are worth 20 points up or down.

Here we go, guys.

Both the Holy Prophet Muhammad and the Biblical David were helped by what arachnids which spun webs outside caves?

-Marshal.

-Spiders.

-Yeah.

According to legend, some Mother Goose rhymes were written by Bigfoot Bertha, the mother of what Frankish king crowned emperor in the year -- Gonzaga.

[ Indistinct whispering ] -Charlemagne.

-Yeah.

Temple of reason was the name French revolutionaries in 1793 gave what famous Gothic cathedral located in Paris?

-Notre Dame.

-Yes, it is Gonzaga.

On your monitors.

Winter skies like this provided an inspiration for some 2000 poems by what 19th century woman -- Gonzaga.

[ Indistinct whispering ] Answer, three, two... -Shelley.

-No.

Emily Dickinson.

What term found on Valentine cards is also used in a tennis game to indicate a -- Gonzaga.

-Love.

-Yes.

In 45 minutes, the minute hand of a clock traverses an angle of how many degrees?

Gonzaga.

-Um, 270.

-Yeah.

You got it.

George Washington’s earliest source of heavy artillery in the Revolutionary War came from what New York fort captured -- -Fort Ticonderoga.

-Fort Ticonderoga is right.

Marshall, on your monitors.

"You back up, but you don’t give up."

These are the words of what pilot, who became the first to fly faster than the speed of sound in 1947?

Yeah.

Marshall.

Tell me -- -Yeager.

-Yep, it’s Chuck Yeager.

Nice.

England’s King James the first was called the wisest fool in Christendom because he insisted on a doctrine known by what, two word -- Marshall.

-Magna Carta.

-No "divine right" is what we were going for.

A molecule of sucrose, or table sugar, contains how many carbon atoms, six -- Banneker.

-Answer.

-12.

-Yeah, 12, is it.

Nice.

Super smart gorillas prove a frightening enemy in a Michael Crichton novel that shares what name with the second longest African -- Marshall.

-Ivan.

-No Congo.

On your monitors.

Union soldiers are shown here in the battle for what Mississippi city they won on July -- Yes.

Marshall.

-Vicksburg.

-Yes.

Good.

Winston Churchill could boast a great, great-grandparent from what New York Indian Confederation that included the -- Yes, Marshal.

-Iroquois.

-You’ve got it.

If the perimeter of a square is 24 inches what is the area?

Marshall.

-36.

-Yes.

Change can be unsettling, particularly in what Kafka story, in which the protagonist turns into a -- Marshall.

-Metamorphosis.

-That’s right.

Vast amounts of sulfur are believed to provide the color on what Jupiter moon with a two letter -- Banneker.

-Blue?

-IO.

The moon is named IO.

No bird flies as high as the constellation Cygnus, which is what graceful, long-necked bird, once an ugly duckling?

Marshall.

-Swan.

-Swan is right.

It’s never too early to prepare for National Peanut Month -- Oh, And that’s the end of the round.

[ Chuckles ] Good job, everybody.

We’re going to tabulate those scores and be back in just a second.

-I’m David Rubenstein, and I believe giving back is something we all can do.

Many students are getting involved in their communities in important ways.

I’ve asked them to share with us how they’re making a difference.

-Hi, my name is Tyler Song.

I’m a junior at Winston Churchill High School, and I’m part of a student-led organization called Kids For Code.

So our mission is to provide free coding education to kids in local middle and elementary schools.

Since we were founded around three years ago, we’ve served over 5,000 students across more than 40 US states and 13 countries, as well as expanded our curriculum to a bunch of new programing languages.

Personally, for me, the part that’s most meaningful is just being able to see students improve as they progress through our courses, whether that’s being able to create more complex code, more complex projects, or something else entirely.

-Like these students, you too can help improve the lives of so many people by volunteering in your town and community.

Please read, learn, get involved, and make a difference.

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Well, the scores are now official, but I want to tell you something.

All of you guys were good.

It was a really competitive game.

So let’s do these scores.

We begin with Banneker High School from Washington, D.C. Mats, Alexander, Oliver, 350 points.

Well done, guys.

[ Applause ] From DC as well, Gonzaga College Prep.

Peter, Luke, Paul, 500 points.

Way to go.

-Thank you.

-You’re welcome.

And coming back for the semifinals, the gentlemen from George Marshall in Falls Church, Shrey, Rohan, and Henry, 560 points.

Way to go, guys.

[ Applause ] That was a good game.

Stick around.

We will be right back.

-Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following... MITRE -- a not-for-profit research and development company working in the public interest.

-What happens when the right people connect, diversity challenges convention, mentors inspire greatness, and passions drives innovation?

From health to transportation and national security, cyber and AI to space and back, MITRE connects the power of government, academia, and industry to meet our nation’s challenges together.

MITRE connects.

-And that does it for us.

We are so happy that you joined us today and, of course, we were happy these students were here because all of them rocked.

I’m Hillary Howard, can’t wait to see you next time.

Bye, everybody.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪