Wisconsin School for the Deaf - The Wisconsin Times Vol. 133 No. 2 Winter 2011-2012 | Page 10

Academic Bowl
November 7-9, 2011 brought many visitors to the WSD campus. Students and coaches from Deaf residential
schools near and far arrived for the 20th annual Great Plains Schools for the Deaf Academic Biathlon. This
was the first time WSD has hosted this event. WSD hosted a Midwest Regional Academic Bowl here almost
three years ago. ASL instructor, Kathryn Harbison was the host coordinator as well as the WSD coach. She
explained that WSD participates in four annual academic bowls, most notably the one held at Gallaudet
University. In addition, WSD attends academic bowls at Harper Community College in November and
Hersey High School in January/February. Both are located in northern Illinois. GPSD has recently adjusted its
schedule and will now occur every November. In the past, it had been held at various times during the months
of February, March and April.
The GPSD Academic Biathlon included Arkansas School for the Deaf, Iowa School for the Deaf, Kansas
School for the Deaf, Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf, Missouri School for the Deaf, Oklahoma School
for the Deaf, and WSD. It is customary for large sponsored events to invite one or two non-member schools
to participate, thus the New Mexico School for the Deaf and Metro Deaf School from St. Paul, Minnesota
competed in this tournament.
Each team competes by answering questions on topics from a broad array of categories, including, literature,
social studies, sports, mathematics, deaf studies, and art, science, computer lingo and current events. Results
of the 2011Academic Bowl include Metro Deaf School taking first place, followed by ISD, KSD, and OSD. In
fifth was MSAD, followed by NMSD, WSD, ASD and MSD.
In addition to the Academic Bowl, an Oratorical competition took place with two divisions; one for middle
school students and one for high school students. This year’s topic was “How My Optimism Helped Me
Overcome Obstacles”. The top three winners of each division went to students from Kansas, Minnesota, and
the Metro Deaf School. Kathryn Harbison remarks, “Regardless of scores, everyone is a winner. Our GPSD
Academic Biathlon event went well and everyone enjoyed it very much.”
In the program booklet, Alex Slappey, director of Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing states, “Competitions involving schools and programs for the deaf and hard of hearing are
far more than just competitive events. They are a crucial part of the rich structure that makes up Deaf Culture.
They are very special social and cultural events for the participants, staff, officials, and coaches. It is an
opportunity for all involved to make new friends and to re-establish old friendships, to compare schools, and
to discuss the events of our Deaf world. The GPSD Academic Biathlon activities are the platform on which
all these other important opportunities happen. The 2011 GPSD Academic Biathlon Competition is another
outstanding opportunity for the social and cultural events that we will remember long after we have forgotten
the competition.”

Winter 2012 - 10