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 our 42nd season of the high school academic tournament.

The winner of today's game advances to the threshold of 32.

Will it be the Beavers from Karns High School or the Rebels from West High School?

It's a cross county matchup.

Both of these are Knox County public schools.

Let's get started by meeting the players from Karns.

First up is, 11th grader, Muhammad Abdul Halik.

Muhammad, welcome.

Tell us about yourself.

Hi.

My name is Muhammad Halik and I'm from Karns High School, I'm an 11th grader.

Yeah.

And this is my second year Scholars Bowl.

And my favorite movie is The Elephant Man.

Really?

What is it about The Elephant Man that strikes you?

That's what - I mean, way before you were born.

Yeah, I just like the story, to be honest.

It has a really good lesson.

It does.

12th grader, Baylor Sanford is up next.

Baylor.

Hi, welcome - tell us about you.

Hi.

I'm a 12th grader, I go to Karns High School, and I like playing marimba.

I do that on the marching band.

I thought the marimbas were gigantic, like, bigger than the desk that you're sitting at right now.

Kind of.

I mean, it's not longer than the desk we're sitting at, but it's like width length.

Yeah, it is.

Oh, how do you take that around in the marching band?

You they put you just in one stationary position.

Yeah.

Do they expect you to push it across the field.

So we just put it in one position just in the front.

It would be more fun though if you had to drag it around doing it.

I guess it would be.

It would be fun.

Well, you'd have to have people helping you, I think.

One on either side.

Team captain for Karns is Rebecca Ares Mindy.

Rebecca, hey.

Welcome.

You're going to answer bonuses on behalf of the squad or you can defer by name to a teammate.

Tell us about yourself.

You're in 12th grade, and?

Okay, so I'm in 12th grade, and I really love Jesus, and I also- my favorite movie is Mean Girls.

Okay, so that sounds like a contradiction right there.

I love both and I also want to be an F.B.I agent once I get out of high school.

Really?

Fantastic.

Now, you could, of course, be stationed anywhere in the country and territories if youre an F.B.I agent.

But, there's a division right here in Knoxville in Dowell Springs Road.

Where would you want to be?

I'm not sure.

I just really want to help people, but I would like to be in the T.B.I to stay close to home and help those like around us.

Oh, the T.B.I and not the F.B.I?

Whichever, I'd want to start off in T.B.I.

as long as there's “B.I” involved.

Yeah, I got it.

Lincoln Kennedy is in 11th grade.

Lincoln, welcome, tell us about yourself.

My name is Lincoln Kennedy, I'm from Karns High School, Im an 11th grader, I play varsity volleyball, and I'm named after three presidents.

Well, I can only think of two - Lincoln and Kennedy.

Who's the other one?

My middle name is Jefferson.

Seriously?

Yes.

So youre “LJK”?

Yep.

Do you have, aspirations for politics maybe someday?

Or is it just something you're saddled with from your parents?

Political science is pretty interesting, but I'm more of a math guy.

Okay.

Very nice.

Well, we're happy to have you.

Of course.

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

We've got Nilla Pell, Riley Pike, and Aubrey Darden, and coach Michael Masters; who teaches ELA to the Beavers at Karns.

Taking on the Rebels from West High School - a school that we haven't had in the tournament for a couple of years.

We're very happy to have West back.

Let's say hi first to, 12th grader, Hayes Acker.

Hayes, welcome - tell us about you.

Hey, I'm Hayes, I'm the captain for the ultimate frisbee team at West, and I'm involved in our student government programs.

And, what's your role in student government?

We go to, like, these conferences in Nashville and Murfreesboro, and I'm an officer, and I serve in the core components.

You look for an ultimate frisbee course everywhere you go.

It's like the one that's like soccer.

So that's disc golf.

But, yeah, like all of us sometimes.

So wait.

So yours is more like soccer or more like disc golf?

More like soccer.

Oh, okay.

So you have to throw the Frisbee at someone.

Yeah.

Oh, okay.

I didn't realize that.

That's interesting.

Maisey LeClaire is here, another 12th grader.

Maisey, tell us about yourself.

Hi, I'm Maisey, and I'm a senior at West, and I enjoy playing piano and volleyball.

Really?

Okay, that sounds.

I love, hearing about musicians stories.

What are some fun pieces that you can play?

Probably my favorite composer is Clement.

All right, tell us more, because I was thinking of the baseball player as opposed to composer.

Oh, I really enjoy, like, like all of his pieces.

Especially, a lot of his sonatas.

Team captain is Elsa Anderson, who is in 11th grade.

So, Elsa, that means you're saddled with answering bonuses or deferring by name to one of your teammates.

Tell us about yourself.

Yes, sir.

My name is Elsa.

I go to West High School, I'm a junior, I play tennis, and I'm also the captain of the Science Bowl team.

Oh, really?

Oh, tell me, what's the difference?

I mean, tell me something about Science Bowl, because obviously I've never played that one.

I've only been here for this one.

Yeah.

Science Bowl is a lot like Scholars Bowl, but instead of having all sorts of topics, it's mostly just science and math.

Cool.

Ian Stieger is in 12th grade.

Hi, Ian.

What about you?

I'm Ian - I'm a senior, I like to go skiing, and eat ice cream.

Yeah.

All right.

Where do you ski?

First of all.

I ski a lot in Europe.

No way.

Really?

Fantastic.

What's the most exotic?

I mean if you were showing off, like as you are.

You're on television, and you're going to impress me with the most exotic ski trail.

Where would it have been?

Probably somewhere in France.

Very nice.

Lets say hi to the alternates and coach for West High School.

We've got Bailey Hickerson and Henry Casey.

With coach Celeste White, who teaches math to the Rebels.

All right, everybody, you've been briefed on the rules.

I think you all know how it works.

Here we got a lot of new players, obviously on the West Side and a couple new on the on the current side.

Weve got tossups worth 10, bonuses worth 20.

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

First tossup in the category of geography, Caracas is the capital of which country?

Maisey.

Venezuela.

Is right, geography is your bonus.

Which South American country relocated its capital in 1960 to a planned city with modernist architecture built from the ground up in the nation's interior?

For Elsa to answer or defer.

Answer.

Peru.

That's Brazil.

Now tell me the name of Brazil's capital.

Sao Paulo.

No, that is Brasilia.

Tossup for everybody in geology.

What is the most common color of a sapphire?

Lincoln.

Red.

Not it, you can steal West.

Elsa.

Blue.

Right, and a geology bonus.

What is the geologic classification of Quartzsite?

Answer, Elsa.

Crystal.

That's metamorphic.

What is the geologic classification of shale?

Sedimentary.

Yes.

That's right, ten points.

Tossup for everybody in sports.

in bowling what is the term for knocking down all ten pins in two bowls?

Lincoln.

Spare.

Right, and a sports bonus now for Rebecca to answer or defer.

What do the letters in NCAA represent?

Defer to Lincoln.

National Association of Athletics.

Well, you need the C in there.

National Collegiate Athletic Association.

No points on that.

Try this.

What did the letters BCS represent in college football?

Again, for Rebecca to answer or defer.

Defer to Lincoln.

You ran out of time on that.

That's Bowl Championship Series.

Tossup for everybody in literature.

In the children's book, Charlotte's Web, What was the name of the pig?

Lincoln.

Charlotte.

Not it.

You can steal West, but Maisey, you can't look at each other.

Unfortunately, this is a no- there's no team in tossup.

That's Wilbur.

Can't take it.

Tossup an algebra.

If six X equals -18, find the value of two X plus four.

Lincoln.

Ten.

No, chance to steal West.

Maisey.

Negative two.

Is right, and an algebra bonus now for West.

What is 144 to the one half power.

Elsa.

Twelve.

And what is 144 to the negative one half power?

Oh, one over twelve.

Is right, 20 points on the bonus.

Tossup in history, the assassination of the Archduke of which country was one of the chain of events leading up to World War I?

Lincoln.

Austria... Austria and Hungary.

Yeah, you got it in there before time ran out.

That's right.

Ten points and a history bonus.

The Atlantic Charter was a joint declaration released by which two world leaders on August 14th, 1941.

Answer.

I'm not sure.

You ran out of time there.

Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill - Tossup in biology.

Which class of cold blooded animals is uniquely defined by having dry, scaly skin, no larval stage, no hair or feathers?

Ian.

Reptiles.

is right.

Biology is your bonus, in animal husbandry what is the term for an adult female rabbit?

Hare.

No, that would be a wild rabbit, this is domesticated, It's a doe.

An animal husbandry, what is the term for an adult male rabbit?

A bull.

No, it's a buck.

Doe and a buck.

No points on that.

Tossup in music.

How many strings are on a violin?

Elsa.

Four.

Is right, and a visual bonus now for West.

Take a look at screens, please.

The distinctive sound from which instrument shown here has become the standard tuning pitch for orchestral performances.

Oboe.

Is right for 20 points.

Tossup in grammar.

In subject verb agreement, when two singular subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb must be in what form?

Lincoln.

Adverb.

Not it - you can steal, West.

Elsa.

Singular.

Is right, and an English bonus now.

Spell the word “affect” in the sentence.

“Good study habits will affect your grades in school.” E-F-F-E-C-T.

No, it starts with an A. What part of speech is “effect” in that sentence?

Verb.

Right, “affect” is usually the verb; “effect” is usually a noun.

Tossup for everybody in vocabulary.

What five letter word beginning with F is a synonym of specious?

Elsa.

Family.

Not it, you can steal, Karns.

But, you can't look at each other, unfortunately, Rebecca.

No, “false” is specious.

No points there.

Tossup in government.

Which branch of the U.S.

military fight smuggling, protects ships, and rescues victims of sea disasters?

Lincoln.

Navy.

Not it, you can steal, Ian.

Coast Guard.

Right, and a government bonus for West.

What is the legal process by which a person gains citizenship in an adopted country?

Naturalization.

Is right for ten.

What is the act of giving up citizenship in a country?

Answer.

Giving up citizenship.

No, the term for it is expatriation.

It would be an expat.

That was a ten on the bonus, tossup in chemistry.

What halogen commonly found in household bleach is also used in swimming pool disinfectants?

Elsa.

Chlorine.

Yes.

Chemistry bonus now.

What kind of luminescence causes materials to glow as they absorb radiation?

Bioluminescence.

No, That's fluorescence.

What kind of luminescence causes materials to glow for minutes or even days longer?

Bioluminescence.

Well, in this case, it's phosphorescence.

No points on that.

Tossup in religion, what is the seven branched candelabrum depicted on the Israeli national emblem?

Elsa.

Menorah.

Is right for ten.

Religion is your bonus.

What's four letter word refers to money given as presents, typically to children during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah?

Answer.

Cash.

Well, “gelt,” G-E-L-T.

No points on that Tossup in foreign language.

What is the Spanish word for “brother”?

Lincoln.

Hermano.

Is right, and a visual bonus for Karns.

Take a look at the screens, please.

Translate the road sign reading, “Mantenga su derecha.” As shown here from Spanish to English.

Defer to Lincoln.

Maintain to the right.

Yeah, “keep right” road sign.

Yeah, well take that, 20 points.

Tossup in geometry.

What is the longest chord in a circle?

Maisey.

The diameter.

Correct, and a geometry bonus.

What is the supplementary angle to 38 degrees?

142.

Correct for 20 points.

Tossup in history.

Which Greek physician is known as the father of medicine?

Muhammad.

Aristotle.

Not him, you can steal West.

Ian.

Archimedes.

No, that's Hippocrates, as in the Hippocratic Oath.

Tossup in science.

What word for a unit of measurement of length is derived from the Latin word “unsere,” meaning 1/12.

Baylor.

Inch.

Correct, science bonus for Karns.

To the nearest cup 500ml of a liquid is how many cups?

Defer to Lincoln.

Half a cup.

No, it's two cups or 2.11.

But I wanted you to round it down to just two.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup an architecture.

What is the term for a window that protrudes from the external wall of a building?

Elsa.

A bay window.

That's right, and an architecture bonus.

Which Greek architectural order has a capital decorated with carvings of acanthus leaves?

The pantheon.

Those are Corinthian Columns.

Tossup in mythology.

What mythical creature has the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; and the head and wings of an eagle with its talons on the front legs?

Lincoln.

Griffin.

Is right, and the mythology bonus, which day of the week was named after the mythical Roman god of agriculture?

Answer.

Defer to Lincoln.

Saturday.

We'll see if they'll give that to you after the time ran out.

That is correct.

Right now, West has a bit of a lead over Karns, but anything can happen in our second half.

One of these teams advances to the threshold of 32.

We'll find out who it's going to be after the break 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.

Im Frank Murphy.

Back from halftime.

In this game between the Beavers of Karns High School and the Rebels of West High School, both those schools in Knox County right now, West has a bit of a lead, but Karns brought some alternates into the game to see if they can catch up.

Let's say hi first to 11th grader, Riley Pike.

Hey, Riley.

Welcome.

Tell us about yourself.

I play volleyball and I wrestle.

I guess the wrestling from your shirt, but what's your position of volleyball?

I'm left side hitter.

Well, good.

We've also got, Nila Pell, who is in 11th grade.

Nila, welcome.

Tell us about yourself.

I'm a keeper for Karns High School.

A keeper that's a Harry Potter reference.

Yeah.

For soccer.

Oh, for soccer, a goalkeeper.

Yes.

Oh, good.

Okay, so they're always coming at you trying to score.

Well, how do you do as a goalkeeper?

I just tackle them.

You're allowed to do that.

Yeah.

Well in my box but.

Oh okay.

Fantastic.

Very good.

All right.

We're happy to have you.

Meanwhile, West is keeping the starting lineup so we can get right back to it.

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

Tossup for all players in math.

What is the probability in flipping four independent coins that all four will show heads?

1/16.

What?

1/16.

Yeah.

Make sure I've called on you, though.

That's your warning for Karns.

That's right, and the math bonus now.

Two cars leave from the same spot driving directly away from each other on a straight road at 20 and 30mph, respectively.

How many minutes will it take for the two cars to be ten miles apart?

Answer, Rebecca.

I'm not sure.

It's 12 minutes.

No points there.

Tossup now in economics.

Beginning in June 2024, whose face began appearing on United Kingdom currency.

Maisey.

Queen Elizabeth.

Not it, you can steal Karns.

Nila.

King Charles.

Yeah, we'll take that.

King Charles III.

You're right, and an economics bonus now for Karns.

Which company makes Chex Mix?

Answer.

All right, you're out of time on that one.

General Mills is the answer.

What company makes Gatorade drinks?

Is it Gatorade?

That's PepsiCo, the parent company.

Tossup now in biology.

What physical feature makes a manatee helpless on land?

Elsa.

Its lack of legs.

Correct and a biology bonus.

Nearly one fourth of the world's cacti species live in which desert?

That extends from Mexico into parts of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

Defer to Hayes.

The Gobi.

That is the Chihuahuan Desert - no points on that.

Tossup in games.

Which game played on 64 alternating colored squares requires a player to capture an opponent's piece by jumping over it diagonally.

Elsa.

Checkers.

Right, games is your bonus, which battle royale game allows players to buy skins and emotes in its exclusive virtual currency, called V-Bucks?

For Elsa to answer or defer.

Fortnite.

Correct for 20 points.

Tossup now in literature, what was the title of the 23 page pamphlet written in 1848 by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels?

Maisey.

The Communist Manifesto.

Right, and the Literature bonus.

Who wrote The Vampire Chronicles which include the novels; The Vampire Armand, Blood & Gold, and Interview with the Vampire.

Robert Frost.

Bright guess.

The answer is Anne Rice.

Tossup now in spelling.

The denominator is the value located in the bottom of a fraction - spell the word, “denominator” Maisey.

D-E-N-O-M-I-N-A-T-O-R.

Is right for ten.

And now, a two part spelling bonus for West.

Spell “alter” as in to change something.

A-L-T-E-R.

And that's right.

Now spell “altar” as in a place for a religious right.

A-L-T-A-R.

That's right, 20 on the bonus.

Tossup in astronomy, which planet in our solar system has the most extreme temperature variations?

Riley.

Venus.

Not it - you can steal, West.

Elsa Mercury.

Correct, and an astronomy bonus.

What ten letter word beginning with L is the amount of energy a body radiates per unit of time?

Lumens.

Well, it's luminosity, so I can't take that.

What are the two forms in which luminosity is measured?

Lumens and watts.

I needed apparent and bolometric, so no points on the bonus.

Tossup now in art.

What earthenware substance with a name that means “cooked earth,” in Latin, is a clay based glazed or unglazed ceramic with a fired body that is porous?

Elsa.

Porcelain.

Not it, you can steal Karns.

“Cooked earth” in Latin would be “terracotta.” Tossup in foreign language.

What is the French word for book?

Hayes.

Livre.

Correct, and a foreign language bonus now.

What is the Greek letter “I”?

Answer.

V. Thats “iota.” What is the Greek letter “S”?

Sigma.

There you go.

You get ready for fraternities and sororities now.

Ten points on that.

Tossup in sports.

Which NBA franchise is based in Dallas, Texas?

Ian.

Dallas Mavericks.

Correct, and a sports bonus for West.

Which variety of pool uses one black, one white, seven striped, and seven solid balls, with each player being assigned either solids or stripes after the break?

For Elsa to answer or defer.

Billiards.

The variety is called eight ball.

No points on that.

Tossup now in history, when Tennessee joined the Union, how many states were already part of the US?

Elsa.

14.

Not it - you can steal, Karns.

15.

You blurted out your answer, so I can't tell you, but it would have been right.

15.

So, you got to ring in, let me call on you and then answer.

Tossup in health.

Which part of the eye acts as a diaphragm to control the amount of light going through the pupil?

Elsa.

The lens.

Not it, you can steal, Karns.

Nobody got that.

It's the iris.

Tossup in music, who was dubbed the King of ragtime for composing classics such as Maple Leaf Rag and The Entertainer?

Maisey.

Scott Joplin.

That's right.

Music is your bonus now.

Which period of music from 1750 to 1820 established many of the norms of composition, presentation and style?

Classical.

That's right for 10.

During this era, what became the predominant keyboard instrument?

The piano.

Piano is right, 20 on the bonus.

Tossup in English.

What four letter word beginning with T is the antonym of “savage”?

Hayes.

Tame.

Yes, and an English bonus.

What is the past simple for the verb “hide”?

Hid.

Yes, what is the past participle for the verb “hide”?

Hidden.

That's also right, 20 on the bonus.

Tossup in economics, Kansas is called the breadbasket of the U.S.

because it is one of the top producers of which crop?

Ian.

Wheat.

That's right.

Economics bonus.

In a competitive market, which two primary factors determine price?

Supply and demand.

Those are both right for 20.

Tossup in chemistry.

Which element gets its symbol from its Latin name “plumbum.” Elsa.

Plutonium.

Not it - you can steal, Karns.

“Plunbum” is Latin for lead.

Tossup in miscellaneous.

What is the name of the day celebrated in the U.S.

on the last Friday in April to promote the planting of trees?

Maisey.

Earth Day.

Not it, you can steal Karns.

It's Arbor Day.

I think Earth Day might also be in April, now that you mention it.

Arbor days is what we asked about.

Tossup in Arts, which Broadway musical includes the songs; Maria, I Feel Pretty, and Gee, Officer Krupke.

Elsa Six.

Not It, you can steal Karns.

The Sound of Music.

That one is West Side Story - no points.

Tossup in vocabulary.

What is the 15 letter word for the act of unnecessarily postponing decisions or actions?

Ian.

Procrastination.

Yeah, you didn't procrastinate on that - you jumped right on it.

Bonus now in vocabulary, what ten letter word beginning with L is a description of someone who was full of trivial conversation?

Lackadaisical.

Well, I was looking for a different adjective.

I was looking for a “loquacious.” No points on that.

Tossup in geography.

Which river runs through Paris, France?

Hayes.

The Seine.

Yeah.

The Seine.

But yeah, we'll take it.

Geography bonus for West.

The lyrics of the Marine Corps hymn refer to the First Barbary War in the lyric, “to the shores of...” which North African city?

Montezuma.

No, that's Tripoli.

Tripoli is the capital of which country?

Libya.

That's right - ten on the bonus.

Tossup in physics, an ampere is the S.I unit for what?

Elsa.

Electricity.

Yeah, electrical current, we'll take it.

Physics bonus.

Who are the two physicists who isolated the radioactive compound, radium chloride, in 1902?

Marie and Pierre Curie.

Those are both correct for 20 points - as time runs out.

And, West ended up padding their lead, cushioning their lead a little bit more against a good squad from Karns.

We enjoyed having you here.

Next year, we hope to have you back and bring it in a little faster.

Thanks so much for being here.

Now, before we go on, Rebecca, let me give you a chance to say something nice about your opponents.

They're very smart.

And they're very good at, like, buzzing in very quickly.

And Elsa's very intelligent from what I see.

Oh, Elsa, what a compliment.

And Elsa.

And your hair's pretty.

What do you have to say about the.

And she likes your hair, too, apparently.

Well, what do you have to say about Karns?

I think that you guys are really smart, and you guys did a really good job.

Good.

All right, well, congratulations.

Karns, goodbye, West, Congratulations.

You move on to the threshold of 32.

We get to see you again on Scholars' Bowl.

And, we hope that you'll be watching again on Scholars' Bowl.

Of course, check your local listings.

You can check your PBS website, probably the easiest, or binge watch past seasons online using the PBS app.

My name is Frank Murphy.

Thank you so much for watching Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.