Today, two high school teams compete for the Academic Championship of our viewing area.

This is Tennessee Scholars' Bowl.

Thank you for watching Tennessee Scholars' Bowl.

I'm Frank Murphy.

This is the high school academic tournament in its 42nd season.

And we are in the round of the philosophical four.

What that means is the winner of today's game advances to the championship.

Will it be the Spartans of Webb School of Knoxville or the Admirals of Farragut High School.

Its another battle of West Knox County.

Winner, of course, advances.

But let's find out how the players from Webb School are feeling, beginning with senior Nolan Humphrey.

Hey, Nolan.

Welcome back.

Tell us about yourself.

Hello, I am Nolan and my favorite misheard song lyric is Jimi Hendrix from Purple Haze, “Excuse me while I kiss this guy.” I think there's actually a book.

And that's the title of the book because it's the best one.

Well, we'll see, of course, what Lucien has to say about it.

Lucien Crane is a sophomore.

Oh, you did the hair special for this game.

Did you?

Tell us about yourself Lucien.

Hi, there.

Yeah, I got a haircut.

And my favorite misheard song lyric is “Go, go, Jason Waterfalls.” TLC.

“Go, go, Jason”?

“Go, go, Jason Waterfalls.” Nice.

Let's say hi to junior.

Sam Kowalski.

Sam.

Of course, youre team captain.

You're going to answer bonuses or defer by name to a teammate.

What about yourself?

Hey Frank, so in Taylor Swift's Blank Space, I thought it was, “Got along with Starbucks lovers.” And what is it really?

“Got a long list of ex-lovers.” But I'm thinking both are accurate.

In her case.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

And of course, Alex Callanan rounds out the squad.

Let's say hi to Alex.

You're a senior this year, so this is your farewell to Scholars' Bowl.

Tell us about yourself.

Hi, Im Alex.

My favorite song lyric is from Begging by Maneskin.

“I paint a picture of where we Pripyat.” And what is it supposed to say?

“I'll paint a picture of where we could be at.” Very fun.

Let's say hi to the alternates and coach for Webb school.

We've got Alexandra Marash knockoff and Christopher Candle, you know, with coach Jenny Fields, who teaches Latin to the Spartans taking on the Admirals of Farragut.

Let's start by saying hi to Sophia Chen in 12th grade.

Sophia.

Welcome back.

How are you?

How you been?

I'm good.

I feel like I just saw you the other day.

That's true.

And tell us about you.

My favorite animal is a wombat.

Why?

They're really fast.

Would you do me a favor after you graduate and write me some wombat questions and send them in for next year Scholars Bowl?

I got you.

I don't think we have any.

Let's say hi to Leyton Lou, who is in 12th grade.

Welcome, Leyton.

What about yourself?

My favorite animal is a goat.

What kind?

Like LeBron James.

That's excellent.

How about Roshan Ramanan?

Who is in 11th grade and team captain.

So, Roshan, you're going to answer bonuses or defer to a teammate by name.

What's new with you?

My favorite animal is the penguin, specifically the emperor penguin.

I liked those when I was a kid, too, because there's an old PBS show that they showed in black and white.

Didn't matter because it was penguins and it was in Antarctica, but I liked it very much.

I would watch it every time it came on.

Roshans sister is Nisha Ramanan, who is in 10th grade.

So welcome Nisha, tell us about yourself.

Well, my favorite animal is a tiger.

And tigers are beautiful.

There's different types of tigers.

You have a particular one in mind?

Not really.

I like them in general.

Just general tigers.

Yes.

Generally.

Lovely.

Let's say hi to the alternates and coach for Farragut High School.

We've got Evan Conger.

Uday Suchith Kamar, Arman Ogles and Jared Lee, joined by Tiffany Booker, who's the coach and sponsor and English teacher at Farragut.

We're also delighted to have a very special guest in the studio with us.

Like to say hi and thank you to Tom Gass, who is the local franchise owner for Andy's Frozen Custard.

And he is joined by one of his employees, Alec Campbell, and they have brought some fresh, tasty treats, I believe.

What do we have?

Chocolate, vanilla, Oreo, and peanut butter for our teams to play during the semifinals and final rounds of Scholars' Bowl.

Thank you for your support, Tom.

We appreciate what you do.

All right everybody, you know how this works.

We got Tossups worth 10, bonuses worth 20.

Yall had to win your way to get here, right?

So get your fingers on the buzzer for this philosophical four round game of Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.

Tossup for all players in geology.

In addition to igneous and sedimentary- Roshan.

Metamorphic.

-What is the third major type of rock?

Geology is your bonus.

Which branch of geological science uses quantitative physical methods to study the Earth's properties, structures, and the forces that shape it?

Topology.

No, sorry.

That is geophysics.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in English.

Which figure of speech is used in the following sentence?

“The snow is a white blanket.” Leyton.

Metaphor.

And the English bonus.

Is the verb active or passive in the sentence?

“The discovery was made last week.” Passive.

Is the verb active or passive in the sentence?

“She had studied all night for the test” Active.

Both right for 20.

Tossup in history.

Who was president of the U.S.

when George Washington died on December 14th- Sam.

Pierce.

1799?

Chance to steal, Farragut.

Roshan.

John Adams.

Is right, and a history bonus.

Which four vice presidents became president because of the assassination of their predecessor?

Andrew Johnson, Chester Arthur, Teddy Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson.

All those are right for 20.

Tossup in music.

Which Canadian singer, who first gained fame as a teenager, is known for- Lucien.

Justin Bieber.

-Hit songs including Daisies, Ghost, and Stay?

Music is your bonus.

Which 2024 hit by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars became the longest reigning daily number one song in Spotify history and the fastest song to reach 1 and 2 billion streams on Spotify?

Die With a Smile.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in math.

In coordinate form.

What is the vertex of the parabola having the equation; Y equals two X squared minus four?

Sam.

Zero negative four.

Right.

Math is your bonus.

What is the midpoint of a line segment with the endpoints of (-5 , 3) and (-5 , -2)?

Negative five and one half.

Are both right, 20.

Tossup now in biology.

Which type of ecosystem is characterized by poorly drained mineral soils- Roshan.

Tundra.

-And waterlogged ground?

Chance to steal, Webb.

Lucien.

Swamp.

Right, swamp or marsh.

Biology bonus.

What is the common feature of animals that are ungulates?

Defer to Alex.

Hooves.

Is right.

Hooves is right.

20 points.

Tossup in foreign language.

What is the English translation of the Spanish word, “zapato”?

Roshan?

Shoes.

an official bonus for Farragut.

Take a look at screens.

What word is represented here by American Sign Language Fingerspelling?

slang?

Love.

That's “dorm,” D-O-R-M.

No points on that.

Tossup in economics.

What is the six letter word beginning with ‘O, meaning to sell a share or commodity at a specified- Roshan.

Option.

-Price at a future date?

Economics bonus.

Which two men co-founded Apple Incorporated in 1976 and designed the Apple Two personal computer, giving the company its first major commercial success?

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.

Both right for 20.

Tossup in religion.

What is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia- Roshan.

Haj.

-That is a mandatory religious duty for all able bodied Muslims at least once in their lives?

Religion bonus.

What six letter word beginning with S is the name of a Jewish festival, also called “The Feast of Booths,” that celebrates the fall harvest while commemorating the temporary dwellings used by the Israelites after the Exodus?

Sukaht.

I dont know.

Well, that is related to it.

But the actual thing is, Sukkot.

S-U-K-K-O-T.

No points on that.

Tossup in spelling.

A commissioned officer in the U.S.

Navy or Coast Guard is a lieutenant.

Spell- Sam.

L-I-E-U-T-E-N-A-N-T.

Is correct.

Spelling is your bonus.

The capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties is resilience.

Spell resilient.

like this?

R-E-S-I-L-I-E-N-T.

Correct for 20.

Tossup in chemistry.

What is the symbol for bismuth?

Sam.

VI.

Here's a chemistry bonus now.

What is the electron configuration in exponential form.

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3.

Is right, 20 points.

Tossup in literature.

Which American poets most notable work is ‘Harlem, which starts with- Sophia.

Langston Hughes.

“What happens to a dream deferred?” And a bonus in literature for Farragut.

Which American poet was famous for his use of split words, capital letters and creative punctuation?

E Cummings.

That's also right.

20 in the bonus.

The Tropic of Capricorn bisects which continent into approximately- Roshan.

Africa.

-Approximately equal halves?

Chance to steal, Webb.

Sam.

South America.

That's actually Australia.

No points.

Tossup in mythology.

According to Greek mythology, what primary material was used to construct the giant horse used by the Greeks to infiltrate- Roshan.

Wood.

-Troy?

And a mythology bonus.

Take a look at the screens, Farragut.

What is the name of the vengeful ghost in Mexican folklore, represented in the image shown here, that is said to weep by river's edges and is an omen of bad luck?

La Llorona.

I think it's ‘La Llorona,” but we'll take that.

It's the weeping woman.

20 points.

Tossup in foreign language.

Translate the Spanish word sombrero into French.

Sam.

No answer.

Chance to steal, Farragut.

Roshan.

Chape.

It's ‘chapeau.

A hat in French is chapeau.

Tossup in health.

Which insect in tropical Africa acts as the primary vector to transmit the parasite- Nolan.

Mosquitoes.

-That causes the disease commonly known as sleeping sickness?

Chance to steal, Roshan.

Tsetse fly.

The tsetse fly, but yeah, we'll take it.

Health is your bonus.

What words are represented by the initials used to identify the group of lung conditions known as COPD?

Defer to Sophia.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders.

Well, the last word is “disease,” so I can't give it to you.

No points.

Tossup in arts.

What was the Latin phrase for mechanical crane used in ancient theater to lower actors onto the stage, as if they were divine figures ascending from heaven?

Leyton.

Cranium.

Not it, chance steal, Webb.

Alex.

Deus Machina.

Its “deus ex machina.” I need all three of those words.

Sorry.

No points.

Tossup in government.

Which amendment to the US Constitution states a person cannot be forced to testify against himself- Lucien.

Fifth.

-In a criminal case?

A government bonus.

On the 36th ballot of the 1801 contingent election in the House of Representatives, Thomas Jefferson finally won the presidency, over which former New York senator who had been nominated as Jefferson's running mate?

Burr.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in sports.

In track, which statistic does the abbreviation DNF represent?

Leyton.

Did Not Finish.

And a sports bonus.

What was the original name of the team that won the first two AFLW championships and eventually moved to Nashville to become the Tennessee Titans?

Defer to Leyton.

The Oilers.

Yeah, I will take that.

Houston Oilers.

20.

Tossup in geometry.

What is the sum of the interior angles of a Nonagon?

Roshan.

Seven hun.

Not it, chance to steal, Webb.

Sam.

1260.

Is it, and geometry is your bonus.

In a right triangle.

One leg measures six inches and its hypotenuse measures ten inches.

What is the area of the triangle?

24in square.

Right for 20.

Tossup in physics.

Which Si units are used to measure the physical quantity of torque?

Roshan.

Newton meters.

Right.

Physics bonus.

Who was the first scientist to successfully achieve a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction?

Otto Hahn.

That was Enrico Fermi.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in English.

Which figure of speech compares two things using the word “like” or “as”- Roshan.

Simile.

-To create a new meaning?

English bonus.

What eight letter term beginning with A means a brief fable or allegorical story, usually intended to convey a moral instinct?

Allegory.

The word is an apologue.

A-P-O-L-O-G-U-E.

No points there.

Tossup in geography.

What was the ancient Greeks name for the triangular area between the Tigris- Roshan.

The Fertile Crescent.

-Tigris and Euphrates River?

Chance to steal, Sam.

Mesopotamia.

Is right.

Geography bonus.

Name four of Canada's ten provinces.

British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Those are all correct.

Of course.

The rest of them are Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia.

and Prince Edward Island, I think is what we got.

That's 20 points on the bonus, and it gives us a tie score going into the halftime show.

I guess we better go over those tie breaking rules because this is going to be a very exciting finish.

Coming up after the break with Farragut versus Webb.

Winner goes on to the championship game.

It's the philosophical four on Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.

The 42nd season of Tennessee Scholars' Bowl is a single elimination tournament featuring 50 high school academic teams.

The championship team in this year's Scholars' Bowl receives the Frank Miller Memorial Trophy.

The scorekeeper, timekeeper, and judges for this year's Scholars' Bowl are Chandler Benson, Ernie Roberts, Jerry Doherty, Stephen Hensley, Rebecca Longmire, James Dean, and Kathy Waddell.

East Tennessee PBS would also like to thank its staff and the many volunteers who helped make this educational program possible.

To enter your high school in next year's Tennessee Scholars' Bowl, please write to the address shown on your screen.

You're watching Tennessee Scholars' Bowl.

I'm Frank Murphy, back from halftime in a very exciting, philosophical four round game between Webb School of Knoxville and Farragut High School.

It's the Spartans versus the Admirals.

Tie score right now, so basically it's a 0-0 game going into the second half.

Farragut bringing one of their skilled alternates into the game.

Let's say hi to junior Arman Oges.

Welcome back.

How are you?

I'm doing good.

Tell us about yourself.

My favorite animal is a bear.

Which one?

I think the black bear.

If you had to encounter a bear, that probably be your safest bear.

Yeah, unless you, like, climb a tree or something.

Okay.

Meanwhile everybody else is still here.

So let's get back to it.

Send one of your teams to the championship game on Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.

Tossup for all players in games.

In which video game series by Rovio Entertainment has a flock of colorful- Alex.

Angry Birds.

-Flying creatures trying to save their eggs from green colored pigs?

Games bonus for Webb.

Which trademarked board game played with 64 reversible black and white discs, is won by the player who controls the most pieces by sandwiching their opponents color?

Othello.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in vocabulary.

What does a geometer measure?

Roshan.

Rainfall.

And a vocab bonus now.

What seven letter word beginning with I means to protest or complain bitterly or vehemently?

Vain.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in science.

In which month is the vernal equinox?

Roshan.

March.

Yes.

And a science bonus.

Rounded to the nearest thousand.

How many miles does light travel in one second?

186,000.

Rounded to the nearest thousand.

How many kilometers does light travel in one second?

300,000.

Those are both right for 20.

Tossup now in foreign language.

What word, which is the same in English and Dutch, means- Sam.

Ambulance.

-Vehicle equipped for taking sick or injured people to the hospital?

Foreign language bonus.

Translate the Spanish title of the children's story, “Los Tres Cerditos?” The Three Little Pigs.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in history.

Which U.S.

president coined the term “United Nations”?

Roshan.

Theodore Roosevelt.

Not it, you can steal, Nolan.

Woodrow Wilson.

That was Franklin Roosevelt.

No points on that.

Tossup in art.

What is Michelangelo's David holding in his left hand?

Roshan.

Ball.

No, chance to steal, Webb.

Lucien.

An apple.

No, he's holding the slingshot that he used to kill Goliath.

Tossup for all players in math.

What is the sum of the prime numbers between 10 and 20?

Sam.

60.

Two part math bonus.

How many degrees in two thirds of a circle?

240.

Yeah.

How many degrees in 5/8?

225.

Is right for 20 points on the bonus.

Tossup in biology.

Which animal defends itself with a sack full of ink?

Sam.

A squid.

And a biology bonus.

Would also take an octopus on that.

What type of skeletons do earthworms and jellyfish have?

Hydroskeleton.

what type of skeleton do lobsters and crabs have?

Exoskeleton.

Is right for 20 points.

Tossup for all players in literature.

Three films based on which book by Mario Puzo tell the story of the Corleone organized crime family?

Roshan.

The Godfather.

Literature bonus now for Farragut.

What is the title of Truman Capotes book about the murder of a family in Kansas?

Defer to Sophia.

In Cold Blood.

Is right for ten.

Which childhood friend of Capote traveled with him to help with his research and went on to become an award winning author herself?

Defer to Sophia.

Alice Monroe.

That was Harper Lee.

Now ten points on that bonus.

Tossup now in economics.

What is the four letter term for a period of increased business activity- Roshan.

Boom.

-For rising stock prices and prosperity?

And an economics bonus.

In 2024, the FDA sent out a recall notice due to an undeclared allergen in Kirkland Signature Butter.

Because the packaging did not include a warning that butter contains what?

Milk.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in miscellaneous.

How many times does the letter S appear in the phrase “daylight saving time”?

Sam.

One.

Is correct, and a visual bonus.

Take a look at the screens, please.

What word is missing from the famous headline, “Dewey Defeats blank,” on the front page of the November 3rd, 1948 edition of the Chicago Daily Tribune, shown here?

Truman.

Is right for 20.

Tossup for all players in astronomy.

The Big Dipper is part of which constellation?

Sam.

Ursa Major.

Astronomy bonus.

What is the name of the small low mass star that is the nearest known star to our sun?

Alpha Centauri.

It's Proxima, meaning nearest Centauri.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in art.

Following a recent major heist, which Paris museums criticized- Sam.

Louvre.

-When it was revealed the password for its video surveillance system was simply the name of the museum itself?

Art bonus.

Which contemporary American artist is known for sculpting balloon animals with stainless steel?

Andy Warhol.

That's Jeff Koons.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in geography.

Manchester accent- Roshan.

Massachusetts.

-Manchester accent, and Chester, Essex, and Gloucester are in which New England state?

Geography bonus.

Name four of the five boroughs of New York City.

Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Bronx.

Manhattan being the other.

That's right, 20 points.

Tossup for all players in music.

Which style of vocal music often used in opera and oratorio, features a solo voice accompanied by instruments and is designed- Sam.

Aria.

-To imitate the natural rhythm of speech?

Chance to steal, Farragut.

Leyton.

Falsetto.

That one is resistive.

No points on that.

Tossup in pre-calculus.

What is the value of cosine 120 degrees in simplest rotation- Roshan.

Negative one half.

-Form?

Pre-calc bonus.

If the cosine ratio of an acute angle is 15 over 17, what is its tangent ratio?

8 over 15.

Is correct for 20.

Tossup for all players in sports.

In football, what virtual marker separates the two teams- Roshan.

The line of scrimmage.

-At the beginning of each play?

and sports bonus.

Take a look at the screens for this one, Farragut.

The Baltimore Ravens mascot shown here.

His name for which famous writer who died in Baltimore and is buried there?

Edgar Allan Poe.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in science.

Posit, drive and flathead are types of what?

Sam.

Spruce.

And a science bonus.

What is the term for the change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium to another?

Defer to Alex.

Refraction.

Correct.

What is the term for the bouncing back of waves that struck a surface?

Defer to Alex.

Reflection.

Also right, 20.

Tossup in foreign language.

The title of which Taylor Swift album could be translated into Spanish as an era?

Sam.

Speak Now.

And a foreign language bonus now.

What is the English translation of the Spanish word for “pequeño”?

Small.

What is the English translation of the Spanish word “grande”?

Big.

Also right, 20.

Tossup in government.

The U.S.

government possesses only powers granted to it by which document?

Sam.

U.S.

Constitution.

Government bonus.

In which city is the only royal residence in the United States?

Honolulu, Hawaii.

Yes.

And what is the name of the Hawaiian royal residence, which is now a museum?

Kauai.

Thats the Iolani Palace.

Ten points on the bonus.

Tossup in technology.

Who is credited with inventing the Kinetoscope, a forerunner of the motion- Roshan.

Thomas Edison.

-Motion picture film projector.

Technology bonus in electronics.

What word does the T in MOSFET represent?

Transistor.

Right for 20.

Tossup in vocabulary.

What 12 letter word beginning with E and ending with M is the antonym- Sam.

Entrepreneur.

Roshan Exaggeration.

Yeah, understatement?

Spelling is your bonus.

Spell exaggeration.

E-X-A-G-G-E-R-A-T-I-O-N.

Right for 20.

Tossup now in health.

Which Swiss psychiatrist developed the inkblot test?

Roshan.

Rorschach.

Health bonus.

Histology, also known as microscopic anatomy, is the branch of biology concerned with the composition and structure of what?

Tissues.

Yeah, tissues and cells.

20 points.

Tossup in literature.

In the Iliad who kills Hector?

Roshan.

Achilles.

Literature bonus.

Mark Twain felt the best of the books he wrote was a biographical novel about which peasant girl, who led the French army to victory in several battles during the Hundred Years War, was burned at the stake by the English and was canonized a Catholic saint?

Joan of Arc.

Is right for 20.

Tossup now in U.S.

history.

Which practice did abolitionists want to abolish?

Roshan.

Slavery.

History bonus.

During the Civil War, which famous ironclad ship was known as Erickson's Folly because it was built by a Swedish engineer named Erickson and had only two guns?

The Monitor.

Is right.

What was the name of the Confederate ship that faced the monitor in battle?

The Merrimack.

Also right, 20.

Tossup in religion.

In the Gospel of Luke, when Mary visits her relative Elizabeth, who leaped for joy in Elizabeth's womb- Nolan.

Jesus.

Not it, you can steal, Farragut.

Arman.

Abraham.

That was John the Baptist.

No points there.

Tossup in vocabulary.

What nine letter word beginning with F means courage or pain in adversity?

Roshan.

Fortitude.

And a vocab bonus.

What is the term for fear of heights?

Acrophobia.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in chemistry.

What term refers to the number of molecules or ions attached to a central metal atom?

Roshan.

Coordination number.

Right, chemistry bonus.

The Hermes project that could be operational in Oak Ridge as early as 2026, will cool its nuclear reactor with molten fluoride salts.

Consisting of fluoride and which other two elements?

Lithium and beryllium.

Yes, combined to spell Flybe.

Thats F-L-Y-B-E, but its the end of the games, I don't know that we really need to give you any more points because you beat an excellent squad.

In fact, last year's champions from Webb School of Knoxville, who are just a delight to have here and this is a tough loss because you guys have had a great season so far.

But I want you to know that we appreciate you and, Sam?

You guys are pretty fast today.

I really enjoy competing with you guys.

Got a lot of respect for you.

Good luck in the final and to our team.

Sorry that we couldn't make it, but I think we had a really good run.

And I'm really proud of our season.

And I'm really thankful to PBS for sponsoring the show.

And our coach, Miss Fields.

All right.

Well, thank you for that.

Meanwhile, Farragut, congratulations.

You now are going to go on to the championship game.

Congratulations again.

We're happy for you, and Roshan, what do you got to say?

Yeah.

You guys played really well.

I mean, that was close up until, like, the very end.

You guys are quick on the buzzer.

I'd like to say thank you to all my teammates.

They did great.

I know they're studying hard for this.

Well that's it.

Our philosophical four is wrapped up.

We're now moving on to the championship game.

You of course, can watch that and all of our shows by never missing an episode, by checking your local listings on your PBS website, or by binge watching past seasons online using the PBS app.

My name is Frank Murphy.

Thank you for watching Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.