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 today we are in the threshold of 32.

The winner of today's game advances to our smart 16.

Will it be the Tornadoes of Alcoa or the Wolves of West Ridge?

Well, let's get started by meeting some players, beginning with those Alcoa Tornadoes, of course, in Blount County.

Let's say hi first to Tyrus Hudson, is in 11th grade.

Welcome back, Tyrus.

Tell us about yourself.

In 2025 I claimed the first place medal in Mechatronics Skills USA.

All right, that sounds impressive.

Mechatronics.

Break that down for me.

What is it?

So basically we had to build a PLC and code it too.

I think you're also going to have to explain PLC.

Yeah it's a programmable logic controller.

Oh fantastic.

Let's say I had a 12th grader Hannah Green.

Hannah, welcome back to the show.

Tell us about you.

Hi.

This past summer, I went to Germany as part of the Gap Exchange Program.

Oh, yeah?

What part of Germany did you visit?

We went to Brandenburg, but I guess they want us to say Berlin, because that's the big city where theyre by.

But you went to the Brandenburg Gate where that was maybe or no?

Yes we did.

Oh, cool.

And did you get to travel around a lot or just do a lot of activities in one place?

We went - we traveled around a lot.

We also, on that same trip went to the southern part of France, I think Colmar.

And then we went to Switzerland for about a day.

All right.

Good, good.

Team captain for Alcoa is Dante Gomez, who is a senior.

Dante, you're going to answer bonuses or defer by name to a teammate, just like last time you were here.

Tell us about yourself.

So I'm a certified nursing aide.

Oh, really?

Yeah, CNA.

But I mean you're a senior in high school.

I know, my high school has this cool program where we go, we get our certification, but we also do, like, clinical rotations.

And so I've been in the hospital and nursing homes and stuff like that.

The Blount Hospital in Maryville?

Which one?

Yeah.

Maryville.

Wow.

And obviously that sets you up for a career in medicine?

Yeah.

Is there a specialty that you're interested in?

I don't want to continue nursing.

Oh, I mean, it's like a really.

I love the experience, but as - I want to go into, like, endocrinology.

That's exactly what I was wondering what your specialty might be.

Excellent.

And we also are joined by 11th grader Colette Brown.

Welcome back.

Colette.

Good to have you again.

Tell us about yourself.

Hi.

I've been to 34 out of the 50 states.

Well, you seem almost at your age.

I was only much lower than that.

But I have made it to all 50, and I really recommend it.

Of the remaining 16 - what are you looking forward to the most?

I'm going to take a trip to New York this winter.

And I'm also really excited to go to Alaska at some point.

Yeah, Alaska and Hawaii are the big two.

Yeah.

Have you been to Hawaii yet?

I have, yes.

So once you.

Yeah, once you get those two out of the way, then the rest of it's all downhill.

It's fantastic.

Yeah.

Well, good.

Glad to hear about that.

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

We've got Chris Patel, Brady Harris, Fletcher Buchanan and Josh Choi, joined by coach Gina Bloom, who is the government and U.S.

history teacher for the Tornadoes of Alcoa, taking on the Wolves of West Ridge from Blountville, Tennessee.

That's in Sullivan County, right?

Let's say hi first to 12th grader Harrison Hounshell.

Welcome back, Harrison.

You've been here for several years now.

Tell us about yourself.

Well, when I woke up this morning, I didn't know that I'd be here.

I got a call from Mr.

Andrew Brown that I was not on the bus.

So you had to get here on your own?

Yes - no actually.

I, I had to find my permission slip, and I ran down from the band room all the way to the office in, like, 20 seconds.

But we're glad you're here.

I mean, you know that you're on the team, right?

Yes.

I just wasn't sure when we were doing.

It turns out it was today.

Well, good.

I love that story.

That's fun.

Let's say hi to 11th grader Ty Crowe.

Hey, Ty.

Welcome.

Tell us about you.

I am an alto saxophone in the West Ridge band.

So, you're an alto saxophonist?

Yes.

Yes.

That's the British pronunciation.

What's, some stuff you can play.

What do you.

I really like classical and jazz.

Jazz is my favorite thing.

That's something you might even do.

Just, you know, throughout the rest of your life.

You know, I would say, don't give it up if you can help it.

Try to keep playing.

I think I'd like to.

It's, definitely something I want to keep up with.

As a hobby or as a career?

Hobby, probably.

Oh.

Very good.

All right.

And then team captain is Ethan Coulson.

Ethan, welcome.

You're going to answer bonuses or defer by name to one of your teammates.

Tell us about you.

I'm also an alto saxophone player in West Ridge marching band with Ty.

Oh, really?

Yeah.

So you're both saxophonists?

Correct.

I just love that word.

My, I've got some British friends who overuse the British pronunciations.

They even say microwave.

So, Sure.

I think that one might be a joke then.

What do you like to play on the sax?

Pretty much just about everything I like good variety.

But recently we've had some classical pieces in concert band, and I enjoy those.

Oh, great.

Let's say hi.

Also to 12th grader Andrew Brown.

Welcome back.

Andrew.

Good to see you again this year.

Tell us about yourself.

Over the last little bit, Hurricane Helene, our church got flooded.

So it's been nice to watch all of that, like, be redone.

And you guys up in that part of Tennessee were affected harder than the rest of the states.

That's amazing.

It's it's cool to watch like this.

Our church had like, really old interior and now it's like renovated and stuff and it looks more modern.

It's like, “yay!

we have...” “Air conditioning.” Yes.

All the modern conveniences.

All right.

What's the name of your church?

Riverview Baptist Church in Erwin.

Love it.

Let's say hi to the alternates and coach for West Ridge.

We've got Reagan Stubbs and Tristan Coffey joined by coach Jerry Sinclair, who teaches chemistry.

We're also delighted to have a very special guest with us today, Alan Lowe, the CEO of the American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation in Oak Ridge.

Alan, thank you very much for coming to watch Scholars' Bowl today.

All right everybody, you know how this game works.

We've got Tossups worth ten bonuses worth 20.

Get your fingers on the buzzer for this threshold of 32.

Round game of Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.

Tossup for everyone in algebra.

Solve for Y in the equation; six minus eight Y equals Y plus six.

Andrew.

Y is equal to zero.

Correct.

And an algebra bonus for West Ridge.

What shape is represented on a graph by the equation; X squared minus four Y squared equals 16?

Hyperbola.

Is right 20 on the bonus.

Tossup now in religion.

What is the process in which the Catholic Church officially recognizes a deceased person as being a saint?

Dante.

Canonizing.

That's right.

And a religion bonus now for Alcoa.

According to Catholic tradition, where did the souls of those who have died undergo purification before they enter heaven?

Purgatory.

Is right for 20.

Tossup now in literature.

What is William Golding's book about a group of boys stranded on an island?

Harrison.

Lord of the Flies.

That's right.

Literature bonus.

What literary term refers to a figure of speech in which something non-human is given human characteristics?

Personification.

Right for ten.

What literary term refers to a statement that reveals a kind of truth?

Although it seems at first to be self-contradictory.

Oxymoron.

That one's a paradox.

Ten points on the bonus.

Tossup in government.

Which chamber of the US Congress has the power to impeach?

Dante.

Senate.

Not it.

You can steal- Harrison.

Judicial.

No, that's the House of Representatives.

No points on that.

Tossup - next one is in physics.

What determines the color of light?

Tyrus.

Wavelength.

That's right.

And a physics bonus for Alcoa, which has the lower frequency; infrared rays or microwaves?

Answer.

Infrared.

No, that's microwaves.

Which has a lower frequency; AM or FM?

AM.

AM is right.

Ten points on the bonus.

Tossup in vocabulary.

Spell “cite,” as in the sentence, “students must cite their sources-” Ty.

C-I-T-E.

“-In a research paper.” Vocabulary bonus for West Ridge.

What five letter word beginning with K is derived from Greek and means acclaim or praise?

No answer.

That is, “kudos.” K-U-D-O-S.

Tossup for everybody in art.

What is the term for a color scheme that uses colors directly opposite on the color wheel?

Colette.

Complimentary.

That's right, and a visual art bonus for Alcoa.

Look at the screens, please.

Who is the artist in the Self-Portrait with a beret shown here, who built a large pond filled with water lilies and crossed with the humpbacked bridge on his property in Giverny?

Claude Monet.

Is right for 20 points.

Tossup in foreign language.

In Spanish, what does “quiero mas” mean?

Ty.

“I want more.” That's right.

Foreign language is your bonus.

Borrowed from French; what is the 12 letter word that begins with “E,” for someone who organizes and manages an enterprise that usually involves some risk?

Entrepreneur.

Is right, now spell “entrepreneur” E-N-R.

E- Can I do it again?

No.

You have to take your first answer.

And you already knew three letters in that there's a T, “E-N-T-R-E-P-R-E-N-E-U-R.

Ten points on the bonus Tossup in geography, how many states border Tennessee?

Dante.

Seven.

Not it, you can steal, Ethan, 8.

Is right.

Now geography bonus for West Ridge.

Name four of the eight states that border Tennessee.

South- North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama.

You said, “North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama...?” Mississippi.

“Mississippi.” That gets you 20 on the bonus, by the way, the whole list for those of you keeping track at home is Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginia.

Tossup for all players now in chemistry.

A majority of the world's aluminum comes from which ore?

Ethan.

Bauxite.

Correct.

And a chemistry bonus.

Which chemist is credited with isolating and identifying hydrogen as a distinct element in 1766?

Einstein.

That was Henry Cavendish.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in math.

What is the value of 15 squared?

Tyrus.

250.

Not it, you steal- Ethan.

225.

That's right.

Math bonus now for West Ridge.

What four consecutive odd integers add up to 88?

19, 21, 23, 25.

Those four are correct for 20 points.

Tossup now in miscellaneous.

When a person treats a minor problem like a major one, they're said to be making a mountain out of what?

Harrison.

A molehill?

That's right.

Miscellaneous bonus now.

Which electronic robotic toy that resembles a hamster or owl like creature was considered a must have toy in the early 2000s?

For Ethan to answer or defer.

Furby.

Is right for 20.

Tossup now in English.

Correct the grammar in this sentence “I did not see you because you was concealed.” Ty.

“Because you were concealed.” Correct.

English bonus; correct the following sentence if necessary, “me and my sister went to our favorite pizza place this morning.” “My sister and I went to our favorite pizza place.” That's correct for 20.

Tossup in U.S.

history.

What was the name given to the domestic programs that President Lyndon Johnson outlined in his 1965 state of the Union address?

That was called the Great Society.

Tossup now in biology.

What is the term for the shape of the human DNA molecule?

Dante.

Double helix.

Is right.

And a biology bonus.

Take a look at the screens for this one.

What popular pet shown here is known as the designer fish of the aquatic world due to a long history of selective breeding that produced a wide variety of coloration and finage?

Betta Fish.

Yeah, actually the correct pronunciation is “betta” I learned recently, but you know, B-E-T-TA or Siamese Fighting Fish is right thats 20 points.

Spelling is the Tossup.

A buffet is a food spread with many choices including broccoli.

Spell- Hannah.

B-U-F-F-E-T.

Is buffet.

Spelling bonus for Alcoa.

Someone who exercises a compelling charm which inspires devotion and others is charismatic.

Spell “charismatic.” Answer.

C-H-A-R-I-S-M-A-T-I-C.

That's right, 20 points.

Tossup in music.

What is a Waltz Time Signature?

Ty.

2/4.

Not it, you can steal- Hannah.

3/3.

No, it's three quarters, 3/4.

No points there.

Tossup in mythology.

In Greek mythology, who led the crew of the Argo in search of the Golden Fleece?

Colette.

Jason.

Right, mythology bonus now.

In Roman mythology, who was the two faced god of beginnings, transitions, time and doorways?

Dido.

No, that's Janus.

Looking forward and backward, which is why January is named after.

Tossup for all players in economics.

What word beginning with D refers to a sum of money paid regularly by a company to its investors- Tyrus.

Debt.

-Out of its profits.

Chance to steal, Ethan.

A dividend.

Yes.

That's right.

And an economics bonus.

The baptism of which Native American woman was featured in a John Gadsby Chapman painting that's reproduced on the back of a $20 first charter period National Bank note?

Sacagawea.

it's Pocahontas.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in astronomy, how old is sunlight by the time it reaches Earth?

Dante.

8 minutes.

That's right.

Astronomy is your bonus.

What is the term for a pair of stars that are close together, orbit each other, and are held captive by each other's gravity?

For Dante to answer or defer.

Double orbiting.

No.

It has to be exact; binary star or double star.

No points.

Tossup in geometry, what term is given to noncore planar lines?

Ethan.

Collinear.

No, chance to steal, Alcoa.

Hannah.

Intersecting.

No.

Those are skew lines.

Tossup in religion.

Followers of Hinduism consider the waters of which river to be sacred?

Dante.

Ganges.

Yes.

Religion bonus; name four of the seven deadly sins in Christian tradition?

Greed, Sloth, Envy.

And prejudice- Pride.

Well, Prejudiced?

No, I cant take that one.

You got three, right?

15 points.

The full list, of course, is Pride, Envy, Greed, Anger, Sloth, Lust and Gluttony.

15 as the half ends.

It's a very close game between Alcoa and West Ridge.

One of these teams will advance to the round of the smart 16.

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.

I'm Frank Murphy, back from halftime.

In this threshold of 32 round game between West Ridge High School of Blountville and Alcoa High School in Blount County.

And right now, both teams have kept their starting lineups intact.

It's pretty close game.

The winner advances to the smart 16.

So let's get back to it.

Everybody's fingers on the buzzer for Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.

Tossup in arts.

Which Disney Pixar feature was about a rodent who liked to cook.

Ty.

Ratatouille.

Is right.

And now an arts bonus for West Ridge.

Who is the Knoxville based comedian whose comedy special called, “I'm Every Woman,” led to her own 16 episode sitcom on Netflix?

Answer.

James Johnson.

No, well thats Leanne Morgan, so I can't give it to you.

No points there.

Tossup in geography.

Mount Olympus, at 9570ft above sea level, is the highest point.

In what country?

Dante.

Greece.

Right.

Geography bonus.

What are the two longest rivers in Africa?

The Nile River and the Niger River.

Ten points for Nile.

Congo is next.

Tossup for all players in health.

What word do the letters EKG or ECG- Dante.

Electrocardiogram.

-Meaning a recording of the heart's electrical activity, says the certified nurse; bonus in health now for Alcoa.

Which insect is the primary vector for Lyme disease?

Tick.

Correct.

Which insect is the primary vector for yellow fever?

Mosquito.

Both right 20 points.

Tossup in sports, which country has won the most FIFA World Cups?

Tyrus.

Germany.

Not it, you can steal West Ridge, but you can't look at each other or talk to each other on tossups.

Brazil would have been the right answer.

Tossup for all players in games.

In which naval combat game do two players search for- Ty.

Battleship.

-And destroy each other's hidden fleet of ships.

Games bonus for West Ridge.

In which popular playground game do players toss a small object onto a pattern of rectangles and then jump through the spaces to retrieve the object?

Hopscotch.

Is right for 20.

Tossup now in foreign language.

What is the English translation of the French expression, “mdaire.” Harrison.

SOS.

Not it, you can steal, Hannah.

“Help me.” Help me is right.

Language bonus for Alcoa.

Take a look at the screens, please.

What word is represented here by American Sign Language Fingerspelling.

Defer the Hannah.

Hear That's right, hear - “H-E-A-R.” Is correct for 20 points.

Tossup in government.

If neither the president nor the Vice president could serve, who would become U.S president?

Dante.

The Speaker of the House.

Correct, government bonus.

Name two of the three things mutually pledged with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence by the signers at the end of the Declaration of Independence?

Life and liberty.

Well, they pledge their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.

Ten points on the bonus Tossup now in geology.

Earth's magnetic poles are part of the magnetic field generated by what substance in the Earth's core?

Harrison.

Iron.

That's right.

Geology bonus.

What four letter geological term beginning with F refers to a drifting section of Arctic ice?

Answer.

No answer.

That's a flowe, “F-L-O-W-E.” Tossup in spelling.

A supplement to a will is a codicil.

spell, “codicil.” Times up on that.

It's, “C-O-D-I-C-I-L.” Tossup in architecture.

Which style of architecture prevalent in Europe from the late 12th to 16th- Harrison.

Gothic -Features distinguishing elements like gargoyles and pointed arches.

Architecture bonus for West Ridge, which Tennessee River dam is adjacent to Lenoir City Park?

Tennessee Dam.

That is the Fort Loudon Dam.

No points there.

Tossup in literature.

“This alone, to thine own self be true,” is a quote from which Shakespearean play.

Ty.

Romeo and Juliet.

No, chance to steal, Alcoa.

Dante.

Hamlet.

Is right.

Literature's your bonus.

Which two of Shakespeare's plays have seasons in the title?

Defer to Colette.

A Midsummer Night's Dream and A Winter's Tale.

Those are both right; 20 points.

Tossup now in world history.

Who invented dynamite and bequeathed his fortune- Harrison.

Nobel.

Yeah.

to those who confer the greatest benefit to humankind.

World history bonus for Ridge, which four modern countries comprise the region once known as the Barbary Coast?

Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco.

All of those are right, except for Egypt.

It's Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia.

15 points on the bonus.

Tossup in science.

Which branch of engineering deals with the motion and behavior of projectiles such as bullets, bombs and missiles?

Harris.

Aerospace.

No ,chance to steal, West Ridge.

Ty.

Rocket science.

Ballistics is what we need there.

Tossup for everybody in math.

What is the result of 2.65 minus 4.2, and then adding that result to 4?

Harrison.

4.65.

No, chance to steal, Alcoa Dante.

2.45.

Is right.

And a math visual bonus now.

Take a look at the screens, Alcoa.

In a 30-60-90 triangle.

If the leg, opposite the 60 degree angle, has a length of six; what are the lengths of the shorter leg and hypotenuse in simplified radical form?

And just for the simplicity, tell me which one's the leg and which one is the hypotenuse?

Answer.

Six square root of three for the longer for the hypotenuse, and six square root of two for the shorter leg.

No, the hypotenuse is four root three and the leg is two root three.

So, no points on that.

Tossup now in technology.

What term is used in digital imaging to describe the process of selectively removing or cutting away the outer portions- Ty.

Cropping.

-Of a picture, and a technology bonus for West Ridge.

In the context of internet connections, what did the letters VPN represent?

Virtual Private Network.

That's right for 20.

Tossup in English.

What four letter word is a synonym for reverberate?

Ty.

Echo.

Yes, English bonus.

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

Drove.

What is the past participle for the verb “drive”?

Driven.

Both right, 20 points.

Tossup in geography.

What is the most active port in Alabama?

Mobile.

Mobile - yeah.

Geography bonus.

Name four of the five U.S.

states on the Gulf Coast.

Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida.

All four are correct.

Texas is the fifth.

20 points on the bonus.

Tossup in biology, which scientist is credited with research that determined dogs developed conditioned reflexes?

Harrison.

Schrödinger's.

Not it, you can steal Alcoa.

Hannah.

Freud.

No, that was Pavlov and his dogs.

Tossup in vocabulary.

What term refers to a word formed from the initial letters of parts of other words, such as laser or scuba.

Ty.

Acronym.

Right.

Vocabulary bonus.

What ten letter adjective beginning with B describes a loud, energetic, roudy?

Bombastic.

Well, boisterous is what you needed there.

No points.

Tossup in music.

What eight letter word beginning with L refers to the text of an opera or vocal work?

Harrison.

Screenplay.

Not it, you can steal, Alcoa.

Legato.

I hadn't called on ya.

I couldn't take it anyway, but it was libretto.

No points there.

Tossup in foreign language.

The word “data,” is the plural of what Latin word meaning “fact”?

Ethan.

Atom.

And foreign language bonus.

Translate the motto of the Marine Corps, “Semper Fidelis”?

Answer.

Seize the day.

That's, “always faithful.” Translate the motto of the Space Force, “Semper supra”?

Answer.

To the stars and beyond.

That one is, “always above us.” Tossup now in history.

Which U.S.

presidents inaugural speech included, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Hannah.

FDR.

Yes, history bonus.

Name four of the six men who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S.

Constitution.

George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John J. And Ben Franklin.

Well, Benjamin Franklin gets you five points at the very end, but you needed all 20 to tie the game, I think.

It's George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, George Reed, Roger Sherman, James Wilson.

What an exciting and close game.

It came down literally to the last question.

Great game by Alcoa and great game West Ridge.

Congratulations to you guys.

First of all, Alcoa with three new players in the tournament for the first time this year and Dante as the only returning player.

We appreciate you guys did a great job making it almost to the smart 16.

Thank you for being here, Dante.

You want to say anything?

Yeah.

The other team was really quick.

Like, they, And they knew a lot of answers.

Yeah.

But I still like for my team.

I think we got pretty close for.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, you're 15 points away.

Yeah, that was really practically right there.

Excellent.

Meanwhile, congratulations, Wolves.

We get to see you again on Scholars Bowl.

You advanced the smart 16.

Ethan?

The other team seem to be pretty articulate and reseverd, I would say.

Most of the times they answer, they were correct.

So.

And, you know, my team, I feel like we were pretty knowledgeable, even if some of our answers were out there.

Yeah.

Mine.

Yeah, it seems like.

Yeah.

You had a little fun with it today.

Okay, well, congratulations, West Ridge.

Meanwhile, you can find all of our shows by checking the listings for your local PBS station and never missing an episode.

Or you can also binge watch past seasons online, as the students from West Ridge have admitted they did on their way here today, on the PBS app.

Thanks so much for watching.

This is Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.

I'm Frank Murphy.