In the first of competing as a team, juniors Matthew Norwood and Kerry Joiner qualified for the National History Bee starting on Friday in Washington D.C.

“We are in the National History  and Geography Olympiad,” Norwood said. “So, the History one is where you go and participate in the buzzer competition where you are asked questions and you buzz in. And for geography, you take more tests, and if you qualify for the end Bee, you take something like a spelling Bee but for geography.”

While at the regional level of competition for Quiz Bowl in Little Rock, Arkansas, Norwood and Joiner decided to try to qualify for the History and Geography Bee.

“I think we all were relatively intelligent when it came to history and geography, and we decided to take the test when were at the quiz bowl,” Joiner said. “And we qualified.”

Despite both Joiner and Norwood qualifying for both events at the national level, both students were unsure if they would be able to participate in the event in Washington D.C.

“There were disagreements as to whether or not the school will fund it, and we thought we might have to fund it ourselves,” Norwood said. “But they ended up deciding that they had it in the budget. So good for us.”

AP Chemistry Teacher Jason Taylor will also be accompanying Joiner and Norwood.

“We will be there until Sunday night,” Joiner said. “We have one free day, but after that one free day, we have a history competition. But we might go to a movie or the Smithsonian.”