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

This is Tennessee Scholars' Bowl.

Thank you for watching Tennessee's Scholars' Bowl.

I'm Frank Murphy.

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

And this is it.

This is the championship game for the trophy.

For the prize for it all.

Will it go to Dobyns-Bennett High School of Kingsport, Tennessee, or Farragut High School from West Knox County?

It's the Indians versus the Admirals.

Who's going to win?

Well, we got to play the game to find out.

Let's get started by meeting the players from Dobyns-Bennett.

Beginning with junior Mulan Ma.

Hey, Mulan.

Welcome back.

Howve you been?

What's new?

Tell us about yourself.

I've been pretty good.

I got ice cream today before we came here.

Where'd you go?

We went to McDonald's.

But don't tell anybody that because you can get Andys Frozen Custard after the show.

Looking forward to that.

Let's say hi to Abdul Ali, who is a junior.

Welcome back.

Abdul, tell us about you.

I'm doing great.

And I think everyone here is looking dapper.

Super dapper.

Team captain for Dobyns-Bennett is Eesha Katari, who is a senior.

Eesha.

Hi.

You'll answer bonuses or defer by name to a dapper teammate.

Tell us about you.

This summer I attended the Governor's School for Sciences and Engineering.

You know, that's a huge deal, right?

Yeah.

You waited today to mention it?

Today's a big deal.

Well, good.

Well, congratulations on that.

And Emery Corpstein is another senior.

Emery.

Welcome back.

Tell us about you.

Looking at our opponents team, I just realized that I played one of them in tennis when we were ten years old.

Are you serious?

Who do you play in tennis?

Leyton.

All right, well, we'll say hi to Leyton in a minute after we meet the rest of the Dobyns-Bennett team.

That's the alternates.

And coach, just say hi to them.

We've got Arush Nagray, and Tom Barrera, and Eli Garrett, and coach Joshua French, who teaches U.S.

history and AP human geography to the Indians of Dobyns-Bennett.

Taking on the Admirals of Farragut High School.

First up is 12th graders Sophia Chen.

Hey, Sophia.

Welcome back.

Tell us about you.

My favorite kitchen appliance is a toaster because I like the way the bread jumps.

Okay.

Very good.

We heard about Leyton Lou a moment ago.

He's in 12th grade.

Hey, Leyton, do you remember playing tennis against Emery Corpstein on the other side?

No.

I was really young, you know, and, you know.

Do you remember being ten?

Not really.

No.

Okay, so its not just Emerys fault.

Its just you don't remember being ten.

Team captain for Farragut is Roshan Ramanan in 11th grade.

Hey, Roshan.

Welcome back.

Tell us about you.

My favorite kitchen appliance is the freezer.

The freezer?

Freezer.

Why is that?

Well, I've been told by my teammate Evan Conger that ice runs in my veins.

We accept it, and then Arman Ogles is here.

Arman, tell us about yourself.

Oh, I'm.

My name is Arman.

And my favorite kitchen appliance is the fridge.

Because you can't live without it.

What is your favorite item in the fridge?

I don't really have a preference if it keeps me alive then that's all I need.

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

We've got Nesha Ramanan, Evan Conger, Jared Lee, and Uday Sujit Kumar with sponsor Tiffany Booker, who teaches English to those Admirals.

We also have some very special guests with us today.

I mentioned a moment ago that our players are gonna get some free frozen custard after today's match.

We want to say thank you and hello to Tom Gas, who is the local franchise owner for Andy's Frozen Custard in the East Tennessee area.

He's here with his employee, Alec Campbell to serve up some free treats to all of our players.

After today's game, we're also especially delighted to have Dean Stella Bridgeman of the Magnolia Avenue campus of Pellissippi State Community College with us.

Pellissippi State is a long time sponsor and supporter of Scholars' Bowl.

And Dean Bridgeman, we appreciate you taking the time to join us today.

Thank you for being here.

You guys had to win how many times to get here?

A lot.

And so obviously you know how it works with Tossups worth 10, bonuses worth 20.

Players, get your fingers on the buzzer for this championship game of Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.

Tossup for all players in geography.

What is the capital of California?

Abdul.

Sacramento.

And geography is your bonus.

Which U.S city is nicknamed, “The Motor City”?

Detroit.

Right for ten.

Which U.S.

city is nicknamed “The Gateway to the West”?

Saint Louis.

Also right, 20.

Tossup in biology.

What is the largest species of salamander in North America- Emery.

The Decker, I dont know.

-Which can be found- Roshan.

Hellbender.

-In clean, fast flowing streams and the Smoky Mountains?

And a biology bonus now for Farragut.

Researchers worried that boat traffic near Chilean Patagonia was impacting a habitat for which giant sea creature, with the scientific name “balaenoptera musculus”?

Baleen whales.

Well, specifically, it's a blue whale, so no points on that.

Tossup in sports.

Which country is the host of the 2026- Emery.

USA.

Winter Olympics?

Chance to steal, Farragut.

Arman.

Italy.

Yes, that's right, and a sports bonus.

Which baseball team wears bright yellow uniforms and plays by modified rules such as batters being called out if a fan catches a foul ball?

Defer to Leyton.

Ball is baseball.

It's called the Savannah Bananas.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in foreign language.

What is the German word for the color black?

Abdul.

And foreign language bonus.

The title of which Taylor Swift album could be translated into German as “Volkskunde”?

Folklore.

Is right for 20.

Tossup now in religion.

What is the philosophy based on the writings of Lao Tzu advocating humility- Abdul.

Thousand.

-Or end religious piety.

Religion bonus.

Saint Patrick is associated with a metaphor for the Holy Trinity that is known by what eight letter word that refers to several similar appearing tri foliate plants?

Defer to Emery.

Shamrock.

Is correct for 20.

Tossup now in history.

Which U.S.

president was a lifelong bachelor?

Emery.

Gerald Ford.

Not it, you can steal, Roshan.

Buchanan.

Yeah, James Buchanan, and a visual bonus for Farragut.

Take a look at the screens, please.

Jack Benny, Ella Fitzgerald, Henry Fonda and Maria Callas were among the performers at a May 1962 rally in Madison Square Garden.

When which actress, shown here at the after party famously sang Happy Birthday, Mr.

President?

Marilyn Monroe.

Is right for ten.

Madison Square Garden rally was in honor of which president, who was shown with his back to the camera?

John F Kennedy.

Is also right.

20 on the bonus.

Tossup in astronomy.

A cosmonaut is an astronaut from which country?

Eesha.

Russia.

Astronomy bonus.

Vyomanauts is an astronaut from which country?

India.

A taikonauts is an astronaut from which country?

China.

Oh that's right, 20 on the bonus.

Tossup in music.

Which Texas born singer who launched her career by winning the inaugural season- Leyton.

Beyonce.

-Of American Idol, has since become a daytime television host and frequent coach on The Voice?

Chance to Steal, Dobyns-Bennett.

Emery.

Kelly Clarkson.

Is right, and a music bonus.

In which 2025 Netflix film do characters Rumi, Mira and Zoe perform the chart topping song Golden?

Defer to Abdul.

K-pop Demon Hunters.

What is the name of the rival boy band that performs the song Soda Pop?

Defer to Abdul.

The Saja Boys.

Thats also right, 20 on the bonus.

You're embarrassed to know that, aren't you?

Tossup in English.

What part of speech is the word “ultra mundane” meaning beyond the universe?

Roshan.

Adjective.

Yes, and an English bonus.

Which three letter Latin word is placed in brackets and inserted after a quotation to indicate that a grammatical or spelling error was in the original source?

Defer to Sofia.

Sic.

And what is the English translation of “sic”?

Wrong.

It means “thus” or “so in this manner,” as in like six Semper tyrannis.

That's always the tyrants.

Tossup in vocabulary.

What is the meaning of the psychological term “ergophobia”?

Eesha.

Fear of work.

And a vocab bonus for DB.

What is a nine letter word imported from French that begins with C-H, means a female singer, and especially one performing in a nightclub?

Defer to Emery.

Chanteuse.

Spell chanteuse.

Defer to Emery.

C-H-A-N-T-E-U-S-E.

Is right, 20 on that bonus.

Tossup in economics.

In 2012, at age 18, who co-founded the organization Turning Point USA?

Emery.

Charlie Kirk.

Is right, and your economics bonus.

Which company's logo of four interlocking rings symbolizes the 1932 merger of four previously independent German automobile manufacturers?

Audi.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in chemistry.

What is the common name for H2O3?

Emery.

Hydrogen carbonate.

No, chance to steal, Roshan.

Carbonic acid.

Is right.

Chemistry is your bonus.

The catalytic process, known as haber Bosch, converts into an H2, into which agriculturally important chemical?

Ammonia.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in religion.

What is the title of the crowdfunded television series created by Dallas Jenkins that- Emery.

The Chosen.

-Focuses on the apostles and their interactions with Jesus?

Religion is Your bonus.

Which 17th century mathematician and philosophers essay on the Existence of God states, “Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is.” “If you gain, you gain all.

If you lose, you lose nothing.” Decar.

No, thats known as “Pascal's Wager.” Blaise Pascal.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in art.

What is the resulting color when mixing red and yellow?

Roshan.

Orange.

And a visual art bonus for Farragut.

Look at the screens.

The promenade shown here is an early Impressionist painting by which French artist?

Monet.

Actually Renoir.

Pierre Auguste Renoir.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in math.

Evaluates three x minus four y If x equals negative four and y equals negative five.

Roshan.

Eight.

And a math bonus.

In an arithmetic progression with the first term of four and a common difference of three, what is the eighth term?

25.

Is right, 20 points.

Tossup in history.

Eight Jesuit priests who were in their rectory less than a mile from ground zero, survived the atomic bomb dropped on which city, August 6th- Roshan.

Hiroshima.

-1945?

History is your bonus.

Who was the Prime Minister of Japan responsible for the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941?

Hideki Tojo.

Yes, 20 points.

Tossup now in health.

What is the name of the muscular wall that divides the heart lengthwise?

Roche.

Septum.

Health bonus.

What is the term for a medical professional trained to draw blood for tests, transfusions, research or blood donation?

Phlebotomist.

And spell “phlebotomist” Defer to Sophia.

P-H-L-E-B-O-T-O-M-I-S-T.

Is right, 20 on the bonus.

Tossup now in art.

Which fundamental of art adds a physicality to an artwork by creating an illusion of three dimensional surfaces- Roshan.

Perspective.

-And shapes that can be seen in felt?

Chance to steal DB.

Abdul.

Depth.

That's texture specifically.

No points on that.

Tossup in literature.

Which ancient Greek historian is referred to as the father of history?

Emery.

Histocraties.

No, chance to steal, Farragut.

Roshan.

Herodotus.

Herodotus, yeah, I think we can take that.

And the literature bonus.

The term mentor a, referring to a guide or teacher, comes from a character named mentor, in which Greek epic, maybe like the Inland Sea or something.

That's my only I try.

I mean, I think Odyssey, maybe the Odyssey is right for 20 tossup now in vocabulary.

What eight letter word beginning with E means a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness?

Leyton.

Euphoria.

And now your bonus.

Spell “euphoria.” E-U-P-H-O-R-I-A.

Right for 20.

Tossup in government.

What year was the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote- Emery.

1920.

-Passed?

And a government bonus.

Give the modern names of four of the 12 Tennessee counties that comprised the State of Franklin.

Defer to Emory.

Washington, Sullivan, Hawkins, and Blount.

All of those are correct.

Carter, Greene, Hamlin, Jefferson, Johnson, Severe and Unicoi are in there, too.

20 points on the bonus.

Tossup now in physics.

A chisel is an example of which simple machine?

Roshan.

Inclined plane.

No, chance to steal, DB.

Eesha.

Wedge.

Right, and a physics bonus.

Which U-shaped tube instrument is used to measure fluid pressure within a closed system?

Manometer.

Right for ten.

Which 17th century German scientist is credited with inventing an early vacuum pump and the manometer used to measure fluid pressure?

Meitner.

No that is Otto Van Gorky.

So that is the end of our first half with Dobyns-Bennett having an ever so slight lead over Farragut.

Either one of these teams could be our champion for the year of season 42 on Scholars' Bowl.

Who's it going to be?

Find out after the break on Tennessee's Scholars' Bowl 2026.

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

The championship team at 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 Dee, 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.

This is the championship game for season 42 between the Indians of Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport and the Admirals of Farragut High School in Knox County.

Only a razor thin margin between these two teams.

Either one of them could go on to win.

Dobyns-Bennett is keeping the starting lineup intact.

Farragut is welcoming their alternate Nesha Ramanan to the game.

Hey, Nesha, good to see you again.

Tell us about yourself.

My favorite kitchen appliance is a microwave.

I've heard people mispronounce it as “microwave” and it is one of my favorite things.

Try it sometime.

“Microwave.” Yeah.

Repeat after me.

“Microwave.” “Microwave.” Rolls right off the tongue.

I'm sorry to have ruined it for you, but I'm also pleased.

All right, let's get back to it, everybody.

One of you guys is going to become our season champion for season 42.

Is it going to be.

Well, get your fingers on the buzzer for Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.

Tossup for all players in games.

The word “checkmate” in chess comes from- Roshan.

The king is dead.

-The Persian phrase “shh mt,” which translates to what?

Games bonus.

Which Nintendo game series first introduced in 1992, includes entries such as Double Dash and Super Circuit, and features characters like Bowser and Yoshi, among others?

Super Smash Bros.

Well, I'm looking for the Mario Kart, which is the more generic level.

No points.

Tossup in foreign language.

What is the literal translation of the Italian cooking term “Al Dante”?

Roshan.

Chewy I need the literal translation.

Eesha.

A little chewy.

No, “to the teeth.” Tossup in pre-calculus.

What word does the number two in the function y equals two Cosine- Emery.

Coefficient.

-Y equals two.

Cosine x represent?

Roshan.

Amplitude.

Is right.

Pre-calc is the bonus.

In degrees or radians.

What acute angle has a secant of two?

60 degrees.

Is right.

We also would have taken pi over three radians.

20 points.

Tossup in science.

Which law mathematically describes the relationships between pressure and velocity- Roshan.

Boyle's Law.

In the horizontal flow of fluids?

Chance to steal, DB.

Eesha.

Bernoulli's.

Yes, and a science bonus.

The officially defined length of one inch is equal to what number of centimeters?

2.5.

No, it's 2.54.

How many ounces are in a quart?

32.

So ten points on the bonus Tossup now in geography.

Which Tennessee city was created to house the uranium enrichment facilities of the Manhattan Project?

Emery.

Oak Ridge.

And a visual bonus.

Take a look at the screens.

The flag shown here belongs to which nation that is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia?

Laos.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in music.

The song ‘Once Upon a Dream, which was sung by Princess Aurora in a Disney film, was based on- Roshan.

Sleeping Beauty.

Is right, based on a waltz in which Tchaikovsky ballet?

Which is same name as the film's.

Music is your bonus.

Which now retired opera singer who lives in Knoxville, is known for providing the voice of Princess Aurora in Disney's 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty?

Idina Menzel.

No, It's the beautiful Mary Costa.

So think about that next time you go to the Civic Auditorium and you walk through Mary Costa Plaza.

Tossup in mythology.

What is the name of Thor's hammer- Emery.

Mjolnir.

Right, and a mythology bonus.

According to the acts of the apostles, when Paul and Barnabas healed a crippled man in Lystra, the crowds mistakenly called Barnabas by the name of which king of the mythical Greek gods?

Zeus.

And because he was the chief speaker they called Paul by the name of which mythical messenger of the Greek goddess?

Hermes.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in vocabulary.

What eight letter word beginning with P refers to a person of wide ranging knowledge- Roshan.

Polymath.

-Or learning?

And a vocab bonus.

What six letter word that was taken from Turkish and begins with K means destiny or fate?

Kismet.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in economics.

Numismatics is the study or collection of- Roshan.

Currency.

And economics bonus.

What is the term for a professional who assesses insurance risk and determines premium rates?

Actuary.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in geology.

What is the area in a desert surrounding a well or natural spring- Roshan.

Oasis.

-Where there's enough water to support plant life?

Geology bonus.

What type of banded, high grade metamorphic rock makes up much of the bedrock in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

Limestone.

That is gneiss.

Spell gneiss.

G-N-E-I-S-S.

Is right for ten points on the bonus.

Tossup in religion.

Which of Jesus Christ's apostles is the patron saint of impossible causes and is the- Emery.

Paul.

-The namesake for a nationally known children's research hospital in Memphis?

Chances steal, Farragut, Leyton.

Saint Jude.

And a religion bonus for Farragut.

In the Book of Leviticus.

What was the term for the animal used on the Day of Atonement to symbolically carry the sins of the people into the wilderness?

Mountain goat.

No, it's a “scapegoat,” is the term.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in arts.

Which 2020 Pixar film follows a middle school music teacher who dies- Leyton.

Soul.

-And finds his way back to Earth from the grave before?

Arts is your bonus.

What is the nickname of the National High School Musical Theater Awards that are named in honor of the former chairman of the Neater Lander Producing Company?

Defer to Sophia.

Marquee Awards.

I think that's the local Knoxville Award, but the National Award that they advance to then is the Jimmy Awards.

Tossup for all players in sports.

In a 25 meter pool.

How many lengths is the 500 meter freestyle event?

Roshan.

20 and a sports bonus.

Take a look at the screens, please, Farragut.

What is the name of the mascot for the New York Metropolitan Baseball Club incorporated, shown here?

Defer to Leyton.

Maddie.

No, it's Mr.

Met.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in geography.

Which is the only country in Central America with English as its official language?

Abdul.

Belize.

And geography is your bonus.

What is the only country in South America with Dutch as its primary official language surname?

Defer to Abdul.

Surname.

Is right for 20.

Tossup now in health.

Which part of the body can benefit from a monocle?

Roshan.

Eyes.

Health bonus.

What words do the letters in the term ‘MRI represent?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Correct for 20.

Tossup in miscellaneous.

What is the name for a dried plum?

Roshan.

Prune.

And a miscellaneous bonus.

What is the commonly used term for a drink, such as the founder, which is made with Diet Coke, heavy cream, coconut flavored sirup, and lime?

Float.

No, it's dirty soda.

Tossup for all players in English.

In binomial nomenclature- Roshan.

Genus.

Is the genus or species or both, are neither capitalized.

Youre right.

Bonus in English.

Although the word “chomping,” meaning to chew noisily, is commonly used.

What is the original and proper four word phrase to signify impatience that refers to a horse in its tack?

Jumping.

Wait, how many words for four?

Defer to Sopghia.

Cham.

Its a four word phrase.

Oh, champing at the bit.

I think we have to take your first answer on that.

It is “champing at the bit,” but you gave us just “cham.” That wasn't enough.

Tossup for all players in math.

What is 16 divided by the square of one half?

Roshan.

64.

Math is your bonus.

What is 49 raised to the negative one half power?

It's one over seven.

Is right for 20.

Tossup now in history.

Which U.S.

president was assassinated on September 6th- Emery.

Lincoln.

-1901 in Buffalo, New York?

Chance to steal, Roshan.

McKinley.

And a history bonus.

Of the eight U.S.

presidents who died in office, which four were not assassinated?

Zachary Taylor, William Henry Harrison, and Warren G. Harding.

All of those are correct.

You got time for one more before the buzzer.

Coolidge.

No, that's Franklin D Roosevelt, is the fourth.

15 on the bonus.

Tossup in chemistry.

Which of the common subatomic particles carry a negative charge?

Roshan.

Electron.

And a chemistry bonus.

What is calcium electron configuration in exponential form?

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in architecture.

Which 605ft structure that was built for the 1962- Roshan.

The Chrysler Building.

-Seattle World's Fair has an observation deck and restaurant on top?

Emery.

Space Needle.

Architectures your bonus.

A team of five North American mallards, consisting of one Drake and four hens, lead their Royal Duck Palace each morning at 11 a.m.

and ride the elevator to the ground floor, where they march to the lobby fountain, of which Memphis business?

Defer to Emery.

Sun Studios.

The Peabody Hotel.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in foreign language.

What is the English translation of the French phrase, “vive le roi”?

Emery.

Long live the King.

And a foreign language bonus.

Which two British literary characters are known in French as “Winnie lourson et Porcinet”?

Winnie the Pooh and Piggy.

Well, I'll give you ten for Winnie the Pooh, but Piglet is the other guy's name, so ten points on the bonus, but not enough to catch up to a brilliant squad from Farragut High School.

First of all, D.B., it's been so much fun having you here.

Of course.

Goodbye forever to your seniors.

But before you go, you should tell us what you want to say.

I mean, you guys are an awesome thing.

You guys are crazy at the buzzer.

I also want to say I'm very proud of my teammates for how we did today.

Big thank you to our dapper coach, Mr.

French, for, like, coaching us all the way here.

And a big thank you to PBS for hosting this.

Oh, a big “you're welcome.” And we appreciate all the schools for participating.

We couldn't do it without all y'all.

And meanwhile, Farragut Roshan?

Yeah.

You guys are really impressive team, too.

It's really fun playing you.

I want to say thank you to our coach, Miss Booker, for, like, helping us through this and making this happen.

And good job to all our teammates for competing well today.

And we'd like to acknowledge all the teams who participated in Tennessee Scholars' Bowl for this 42nd season.

And here with a congratulatory message is Vickie Lawson, the chief executive officer of East Tennessee PBS.

East Tennessee PBS proudly congratulates the outstanding players, coaches, and staff who contributed to this season of Scholars Bowl.

Your commitment to academic excellence and spirited competition sets a shining example for students across our region.

All of us at Tennessee Scholars' Bowl would like to especially congratulate our second place team for season 42, the Indians of Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee.

Congratulations on a great season and a fantastic second place win.

We're thankful to have Dean Stella Bridgman of Pellissippi State Community College's Magnolia Campus here to congratulate and present the trophy to Farragut High School for winning season number 42 of Tennessee Scholars' Bowl.

On behalf of Pellissippi State Community College.

It is my honor to award Farragut High School on their exceptional run in this year's Tennessee Scholars' Bowl tournament.

As the Farragut Admirals celebrate their victory in season 42 of Tennessee Scholars' Bowl.

We'd like to acknowledge all of the students, coaches, principals, the drivers, the judges and the staff who made this season's academic tournament an incredible success.

And especially we'd like to thank you for watching.

I'm Frank Murphy, and this has been Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.