-Students from Bishop Ireton, Langley, and Lake Braddock meet today on "It's Academic".

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Applause ] Hello, everybody.

I'm Hillary 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 and WETA.

-Yay!

-[ Cheers and applause ] -Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following... George Mason University.

All Together Different.

♪♪ -Call us different.

-Different in where we come from... -Where we're going... -And how we think.

-But the same in our dreams for tomorrow.

-Driven by the pole of possibility.

-To inspire.

-To think fearlessly.

-To protect and to heal the planet.

We know the world will change.

-Together... -We... -Will be the ones to change it.

-Call Mason different.

All... -Together... -Different.

♪♪ [ Applause ] -We are really very happy that you're with us here today to watch these fine students duke it out in competition here on "It's Academic".

We begin with the Fast Start, as we always do.

Teams, questions in this round are worth 10 points up or down.

The first team to buzz in gets to answer, and the teams don't see what you do on your screens.

Here we go, guys.

"M" In the Middle.

In this round, all your answers must be five letter words with the letter "M" in the middle, like "lemon".

-Yup.

Langley.

-Remus.

-"Remus" it is.

-Langley.

-Gamma.

-Yes.

-Anybody?

Yeah.

Langley.

-Loman.

-"Loman" it is.

Nice.

The answer is mumps.

-Yep.

Bishop Ireton.

-Lemur.

-Correct.

-Ireton.

-Camel?

-Correct.

This punctuation mark indicates a pause -- -Braddock.

-Comma.

-"Comma" is right.

This young deer titles a novel by Felix -- Ireton.

-Bambi.

-Bambi is right and that does it for the Fast Start, everybody.

[ Cheers and applause ] Let's examine the scores.

Bishop Ireton -- 130 points.

Langley -- 130 points.

Lake Braddock -- 110 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] So we're about to embark on the Mix & Match round.

But first, let's meet the teams.

We begin with Bishop Ireton from Alexandria, Virginia.

Hey, Newman, good to see you again.

-Good to see you.

I'm Newman.

I'm a junior at Bishop Ireton, I'm 16 years old, -and I like doing theater.

-What are you doing this year?

-Uh, well, we're actually in the middle of our fall show, "A Man for All Seasons".

-Ah.

And how does it feel?

-It feels very good.

-What side of the...are you on?

Are you behind or in front of the stage?

-Oh, I'm King Henry.

I'm on stage.

-You're King Henry.

-I am.

-King Henry.

-Exactly.

-I'm not going to give you extra points, but I will give you respect.

-Hi, Daniel.

-Hi.

My name is Daniel.

I'm a junior at Bishop Ireton High School, and I really have a passion for coding and engineering.

-Wow.

So coding always seems, to somebody who doesn't code, and, like, just numbers, numbers, numbers.

What is it to you?

-To me, it's a language to make new things.

Like, to make innovations that can change our world.

-Wow.

Well, we look forward to whatever you're going to change and innovate, Daniel.

-Thank you.

-Thanks.

And finally, we get to say hi to Dallas.

-Hey, Dallas.

-Hi, I'm Dallas, and I'm a junior at Bishop Ireton.

I like engineering in my free time and just really busy with academics right now.

-Oh, yeah.

Swamped?

Just, like, buried?

-Yeah.

[ Chuckles ] -[ Laughs ] Okay, here we go.

I've got some questions for you.

And Mix & Match questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

Better I Escape.

You'll escape with 20 points if you find in this phrase the name of which of the Great Lakes where a major battle took place in the War of 1812.

-Erie.

-Yeah.

Of these three words, which one is the best choice as a synonym -for rebuke?

-[Whispers] Reprimand.

-Reprimand.

-Yes.

Combine the chemical symbols for these three elements and you'll get the name of what river that runs through Paris?

-The Seine?

-Yeah.

On this date, Newspapers all over the world ran headlines announcing the death of what first head -of the Soviet Union?

-Lenin.

-Lenin.

-"Lenin" is right.

These grim words were written by explorer Robert Scott, who died soon after reaching what frozen spot that Roald Amundsen had reached four weeks earlier?

-North pole.

-North pole.

-South pole.

But good job, Bishop Ireton.

210 points.

[ Applause ] To Langley High School from McLean, Virginia.

Ryan, good to see you.

What's going on?

-Hi, I'm Ryan, I'm a sophomore at Langley High School, and I love everything geography related.

-Everything geography related.

I remember that.

What's your favorite thing about geography?

-I guess it's just cool to see how across the world things can seem so different, yet ultimately everyone is just a person, everything is the same.

-You know what's interesting to me?

Every time I look at a map, you understand world history.

Like, oh, that makes sense.

Mountains.

[ Laughs ] You know?

Yeah.

Water.

It's good to have you again, Ryan.

Hi, Amy.

-Hi, I'm Amy, I'm a 17-year-old senior at Langley, and in my free time, I like to play the flute and crochet.

-Crocheting.

We've had a bunch of crocheters on.

Is it like a new thing?

Is that a TikTok thing or what?

-I mean, I actually started when I was in fourth grade, so I guess I was before the trend.

[ Laughs ] -[ Laughs ] Well, it's good to have you, Amy.

And hello, Lillian.

-Hi, I'm Lillian.

I'm a 15-year-old sophomore at Langley, and I like making art and playing percussion.

-Which do you like better?

I ask that question a lot and realize it's an unfair question.

-Um, I think I would say making art just because I've done it for longer.

-Uh-huh.

What's your medium?

-Um, I really like watercolor.

-Oh, nice.

Watercolor is hard.

I think watercolor is hard.

Anyway, here are your questions.

First one... You'll run no risks if you find in this sentence the name of what city, the capital of Afghanistan?

-Kabul.

-Yup.

If a witness presented evidence that was incontrovertible, that evidence could best be described by which of these adjectives?

-[ Whispering ] -Unquestionable.

-Yeah.

If you combine the chemical symbols for these two elements, you'll spell the name -of what Greek god of war?

-Aries.

-Yeah.

On this date, the United States sent troops to what Caribbean country that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Haiti.

-"Haiti" is right.

These words were spoken by President Eisenhower when he sent troops to what Arkansas capital city to enforce school desegregation?

-[ Whispering ] Little Rock.

-[ Whispering ] You say it.

-Little Rock?

-"Little Rock" it is.

Nice job, Langley.

230 points.

[ Applause ] Now we head over to Lake Braddock High School from Burke, Virginia, and first we get to say hello to Varun.

Hiya.

-Hello.

I'm a senior at Lake Braddock, and I'm currently the captain of our Science Olympiad team.

-Oh, so talk about what you're working on.

-Um, currently, I'm in the fossils event, so there, um, we work on -- we work with hands-on fossils and paper tests, too.

-Really cool.

Well, it's very good to have you, Varun.

Hi.

How are you doing, William?

-Good.

How are you doing?

-I am very well.

Thank you.

Very excited to be here today and see this thing play out.

What should we know about you?

-I'm a 17-year-old senior at Lake Braddock, and I'm an officer in our Model UN.

-Wonderful.

Model UN is a very cool thing.

-Yeah, definitely.

It also helps my confidence with speaking a lot.

I know when I was younger, I definitely didn't have that.

-Um, I used to be a little nervous, too.

I was once in a speech competition.

My -- My knees buckled the whole time.

Hey, James.

How are you doing?

-I'm good.

How are you?

-I'm very well.

Tell us about yourself.

-Um, I play the viola in several orchestras.

-Viola is a beautiful instrument.

I love the resonance of it.

-Yeah, I really like the sound.

-And you feel it when you play it, don't you?

All the vibrations going through your body?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Nice.

Okay, guys, here are your questions.

A Dusty Xylophone.

Blow away the dust and you can find the hidden name of what mythical river of the underworld?

-[ Whispers ] Styx?

-Yeah.

Styx?

-Yes.

Which of these materials can best be described as malleable?

-[ All whispering ] Clay.

-Clay?

-Yeah.

If you link the chemical symbols for these elements, you can name what capital of Switzerland?

-[ All whispering ] Bern.

-Bern, yeah.

Bern.

-"Bern" is correct.

This date marked the first political debate between Abraham Lincoln and what rival for a U.S. Senate seat in Illinois?

-Douglas?

-Yeah.

Douglas.

-Yes.

The Provost of England's Emmanuel College voiced to this complaint about a 17th century man who left his money and his name to what Ivy League university in Cambridge, Massachusetts?

-[ Whispers ] Harvard?

[ Normal voice ] Uh, Harvard.

-Yeah.

It's "Harvard".

Nice, Lake Braddock.

210 points.

[ Applause ] Mix & Match is in the books.

The Picture Perfect round is next.

[ 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 ] -[ Cheering ] B-I-S-H-O-P I-R-E-T-O-N. Again.

Go!

Fight!

Win!

-Whoo!

[ Cheers and applause ] Those are the cheers from Bishop Ireton -- Ava, Elizabeth, and Alejandra.

So great to have you with us.

It's nice to have cheers in the studio again.

Okay, guys, it's time for the Picture Perfect round.

Everybody knows how this works.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

Teams, the iris gets its name from a Greek word for what natural, colorful phenomenon that sometimes -- -Braddock.

-Rainbow.

-Yeah.

This type of goose is named for what small marine crustaceans which attach themselves to the sides -- -Langley.

Answer.

-Barnacle.

-That's it.

The colors of this flag represent the lakes and snow fields of -- -Lake Braddock.

-Finland.

-"Finland" is right.

...of what Nordic country that shares a long border with Russia.

What is the value of X in this equation?

-Yeah.

Braddock.

-7.

-"7" it is.

Choice.

This painting, titled The Twittering Machine, is by what 20th century Swiss-born painter -- Paul Klee, Raphael, or Rubens?

-Any takers?

Yeah, Braddock.

-Rubens?

-Nah.

Good try.

It was Paul Klee.

Decorating this old Nigerian vessel are sculptures of what type of lizard known for its ability to change -- -Yes, Langley.

-Chameleon.

-"Chameleon" it is.

In pounds per square inch, the pressure of one atmosphere is roughly which of these?

-Yep, Braddock.

-15.

-"15" is right.

Modigliani painted this portrait of a fellow artist in what year that saw the U.S. enter World War I?

-Yep.

-'31.

-'41.

No, no.

World War I.

-Oh.

-Oh, so sorry, Bishop Ireton.

1917 is the answer.

And that does it for the Picture Perfect round.

[ Applause ] Let's take a look at the scores.

Bishop Ireton -- 190.

Langley -- 270.

Lake Braddock -- 270 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] We've got a really big crowd today just peppered with coaches and administrators and fans and mascots.

Let's meet them all.

We start with Bishop Ireton.

Daniel's the captain of the team.

Who's with you, Daniel?

-So we have our incredible coach, Mr. Cogliano.

Um, we have our head of school, Mrs. McNutt, our assistant principal for Student Life, Mr. Dodds, our assistant principal and dean of faculty, Mrs. Bliss.

We have our wonderful cheerleaders who are champions from last year.

And then we have our Cardinal mascot who has no name.

And we thank them all for coming out.

-Wait, wait.

You didn't bring more people?

-No.

-Okay.

Over to Langley from McLean.

Amy, who's with you?

-Um, so we want to give a really big thank you to our coaches, Miss Banker and Miss Dornemann, as well as our new principal, Mr. Stroud, for all their support.

Um, and we also want to give a shout out to our two alternates, Jamie and Jesse, as well as our parents, for being here today.

-Wonderful.

It is so good to have all of you guys.

And finally to Lake Braddock.

William, tell us about your crew.

-Yeah, I want to thank our wonderful coach, Mr. Carlson, as well as our coach, Mr. Holtzman, who couldn't be here today.

I want to thank some of our administrators, such as Miss Hampton, Miss Tubbs, and Miss Pritchett.

And then I also want to thank our Bruin mascot for showing up.

-Whoo to the Bruin.

Yeah.

Thank you, everybody.

[ Applause ] ♪♪ -I love that you brought so many people to watch you in this Packet round.

You know how the Packet round works, guys.

20 points for each correct question.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

And if you get all of the questions right, there's a 25-point bonus.

Alright, Bishop Ireton, you answer questions first.

Langley, what packet will they answer questions from?

-Two.

-Two.

Alright.

You ready for two, Ireton?

Here we go.

While they're low in calories, jellyfish are considered a delightful snack by what black and white flightless birds of Antarctica?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Penguin.

-Penguins.

Yeah.

Geographers have located over 500 tributaries that flow into what river, the longest in South America?

-Amazon.

-Yeah.

Men's tailors in ancient Rome never had to worry about suits or vests, since all male citizens wore -what loosely fitting garment?

-Toga.

-"Toga" is right.

Here's your science question.

Which of these are the human blood cells that affect the release of the thromboplastin -needed for blood clotting?

-Platelets.

-And the answer is "platelets".

Yes.

In 1917, the United States bought the Virgin Islands from what country -where the details -- -Denmark?

-Yeah, Denmark, where the details of the sale were probably worked out in Copenhagen.

The planet Uranus has a moon named Miranda, in honor of a character in what Shakespeare drama with a stormy title?

-"The Tempest".

-"The Tempest" it is.

Here's your math question.

What is the value of this expression?

-81.

-"81" is right.

"He never quite became a king, and he never quite allowed a legislature", wrote one historian about what 17th century Puritan who took the title Lord Protector of England?

-Cromwell.

-"Cromwell" is right.

25-point bonus for Bishop Ireton.

Well done.

[ Cheers and applause ] Alright, Langley, you're up.

Lake Braddock, will it be packet one or packet three?

-Uh...packet one.

-Packet one.

Colorado is known as the Centennial State because it was admitted to the Union in 1876, exactly how many years after the Declaration of Independence was signed?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -100.

-Yeah.

In the U.S. Capitol, there's a 300-foot mural depicting American history from Columbus to what brothers, who flew the first airplane at Kitty Hawk?

-Wright?

-Yeah.

In 1017, when he was 88 years old, Irish King Brian Boru defeated what "V" initial Norse invaders known for their dragon-headed longboats?

-Vikings?

-Yes.

Here's your science question.

The gravitational force between masses is best described in which of these ways?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Always attractive?

-Yeah.

Wouldn't it be nice if people said that to you?

"You're always attractive."

[ Laughs ] In the 14th century, a king named Peter the Cruel ruled what Spanish region later linked with Aragon by Ferdinand and Isabella?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Castile.

Yes.

In Kipling's "The Jungle Book", he created the character Shere Khan, who is what animal described by poet William Blake as burning bright -in the forests of night?

-Tiger.

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

If the area of this rectangle is 35 and the length is 7, what is the perimeter?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -24.

-24.

Oh, I love the collaboration on that.

And you got it right.

In the early 1840's, abolitionists were supported by what New York governor who would later serve as Lincoln's Secretary of State?

-Answer... is...Seward.

Good job, Langley.

410 points.

[ Applause ] And that leaves packet number three for Lake Braddock.

Built to keep out intruders, what 1,500-mile-long barrier now brings in large numbers of tourists to China each year?

-Yeah.

Great Wall of China.

-Yes.

Unable to file a complaint with shipping companies regarding engine noise, what pearl-producing mollusks simply close their shells?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Oysters.

-Yes.

Oysters.

A grad student might leave a thesis on a professor's desk, but what German monk nailed a 95 theses to a church door in 1517, starting the Protestant Reformation?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] Martin Luther.

-Yeah.

Here's your science question.

Which of these terms names an energy unit?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Calorie.

-Yeah.

Scholars have made efforts to revive the language of what pre-Columbian Indians who lived in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Maya.

-"Maya" is right.

Once a worker on a sugar beet farm, what writer went on to win the Nobel Literature Prize for such works as "The Grapes of Wrath"?

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -Steinbeck.

-Yep, it was "Steinbeck".

Here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression, giving your answer as a positive integer.

-[ Indistinct whispering ] -6.

-"6" is it.

In 1860, Steven Wilson rode a hot air balloon from Pittsburgh to what Maryland location that in 1862 was the site of a bloody Civil War battle?

-Antietam.

-Uh, yeah.

Antietam.

-"Antietam" is right.

Lake Braddock, 25-point bonus.

Nice job.

[ Cheers and applause ] These are good teams.

Stay with us.

The Grab Bag round is next.

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

Did you know that the Sargasso Sea, a section of the Atlantic Ocean, is where certain species of eels are born?

They were will return there in their last year of life to breed for the first time and then die.

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

-[ Cheering ] Let's go, Cardinals, let's go.

Let's go, Cardinals, let's go.

-Yeah, it's the Bishop Ireton cheerers.

[ Applause ] And that sets us up nicely for the Grab Bag round.

Before I jump into this, I want to say all of you are great teams.

Two 25-point bonuses, and Langley, you were just a question away.

This is still a very close game and anything can happen.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

Here we go.

There's an annual peanut butter and jelly day in what Southern state, the home of Jimmy Carter?

-Georgia.

-Yeah.

That's right, Ireton.

If you wanted to spend your vacation at Lake Maracaibo, you'd pack your bags -- -Langley.

-Venezuela.

-Correct.

The periodic table elements include how many halogens equaling the number of rings on the Olympic symbol?

Yep, Langley.

Answer.

-5.

-Yeah.

On your screens.

-Langley.

-Egypt.

-No.

We're going for Saladin.

This Egyptian flag -- nice try -- features an eagle that represents what 12th century sultan?

Literature includes a number of romantic farewells, but to what does Ernest Hemingway bid farewell?

-Langley.

-Arms.

-"Arms" is correct.

If the diagonal of a square equals three times the square root of two, what is the area of the square?

-Yep, Braddock.

-9.

-Yes.

You're right.

Good job.

At different times, both Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland worked for the same law firm in what second largest New York state city?

-Yep, Langley.

-Albany.

-No, it's Buffalo.

On your screens.

He relaxed by going on hikes with his family to collect wild mushrooms.

This mushroom collector was what Austrian doctor who developed the field of psycho-- Braddock.

-Freud.

-"Freud" it is.

Nice, James.

The word "parish" usually relates to churches.

But in what southern Pelican State is -- -Langley.

-Louisiana?

-Yeah.

Choice.

As the frequency of a sound wave increases, does its velocity increase, decrease, or stay the same?

Yep, Braddock.

-Stay the same.

-Correct.

Admiral Nelson's favorite vessel was a warship named for what legendary Greek king, the husband of Clytemnestra?

Yes, Bishop Ireton.

-Minus.

-Oh, Agamemnon.

On your screens.

Among the ancient Greeks who visited this site -of the original -- -[ Buzzer ] And that is the end of the game.

[ Cheers and applause ] Stay with us, because the judges are tallying up those scores, and we will have the results for you in just a minute.

[ Applause ] -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.

-Hello, my name is Daniel, and I'm a junior at Bishop Ireton High School.

I enjoy giving back to my local community in various ways.

I like to use my talents to give back to others through tutoring.

I even help teach a chemistry class at my school.

I also enjoy introducing younger generation to STEM topics by being a leader at my school's computer science contest, and helping at engineering events for young Boy Scouts.

Finally, I take a week off each year to join other high schoolers in the area and complete home improvement projects for the less fortunate in Northern Virginia.

I'm very gratified by the joy people have from my work, and it empowers me to continue serving others in the community.

-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.

[ Applause ] -The scores are now official.

We begin with Bishop Ireton from Alexandria.

Newman, Daniel, Dallas and the Cardinal -- 375 points.

[ Cheers and applause ] From McLean, Virginia, the Langley Saxons, Ryan, Amy, Lillian -- 450 points.

Nicely played.

[ Applause ] And coming back for the playoffs, the Lake Braddock Bruins, Varun, William, James -- 550 points with the Bruins help!

-[ Laughs ] -[ Cheers and applause ] We're so happy you were here with us today and can't wait to see you next week.

-Remember, everybody... -[ All ] It's academic!

-Bye!

-[ Cheers and applause ] -Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following... George Mason University.

All Together Different.

♪♪ -Call us different.

-Different in where we come from... -Where we're going... -And how we think.

-But the same in our dreams for tomorrow.

-Driven by the pole of possibility.

-To inspire.

-To think fearlessly.

-To protect and to heal the planet.

We know the world will change.

-Together... -We... -Will be the ones to change it.

-Call Mason different.

All... -Together... -Different.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪