SMECO Knowledge Bowl Draws 200 Competitors
Leonardtown’s Osprey 2015 team: front row, Eddie Nelson, Grace LeSauvage, and Ben Dodge. Second row, Emma Guy, Logan Ferguson, and Jacob Weller, with coach Sue Boas.
Posted for Southern Maryland Higher Education Center
SMECO recently held its 21st Elementary School Knowledge Bowl, an annual competition for students in elementary schools throughout Southern Maryland. The bowl features an online quiz of general knowledge for teams of fourth- and fifth-graders. Nearly 200 students from 14 schools in Charles and St. Mary’s counties competed in SMECO’s 21st annual Knowledge Bowl.
The Elementary School Knowledge Bowl quiz tested the students’ knowledge of mathematics, history, grammar, current affairs, and other subjects. Working in teams of six, competitors used school computers to access an online test created by volunteers from Charles County Public Schools to solve problems and answer questions. Teams were given 75 minutes to complete the 75-question quiz. At the end of the competition, SMECO posted the overall results on its website, including the results by county.
The 2015 Knowledge Bowl is the final one sponsored by SMECO. This ends an annual tradition that began in 1994 when SMECO launched the Southern Maryland Elementary School Computer Bowl, in cooperation with the school systems in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties. Based on feedback from school system officials and declining student participation, SMECO decided this would be the final year for the Knowledge Bowl. SMECO will continue to sponsor events such as MathCounts, the High School Computer Bowl, the Elementary Math Challenge, and the Outstanding Math and Science Teacher Awards
According to Tom Dennison, SMECO’s Managing Director of Government and Public Affairs, “When we started the competition 21 years ago, computers were not as widely used in the schools as they are today. The event originally provided students with a unique opportunity to capitalize on their strengths and work in teams, to compete, to use computers, and to use the internet. We’ve all come a long way over the years, and students are using computers at home before they even start first grade. But, we’re proud to have been able to provide the support and the enthusiasm for friendly competition among schools, and we hope that the students enjoyed the event and sharpened their skills.”
Winners of the 2015 competition are listed below by team name and school.
St. Mary’s County Winners
* First Place – Osprey 2015, Leonardtown Elementary
* Second Place – Osprey 2014, Leonardtown Elementary
* Third Place – LMDent Dolphins 2, Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary
Overall Winners
* First Place – Osprey 2015, Leonardtown Elementary School, St. Mary’s County
* Second Place – Terrific Tigers, Dr. James Craik Elementary School, Charles County
* Third Place – Osprey 2014, Leonardtown Elementary School, St. Mary’s County
Charles County Winners
* First Place – Terrific Tigers, Dr. James Craik Elementary
* Second Place – Mighty Mustangs, Malcolm Elementary
* Third Place – Proud Pride, Dr. James Craik Elementary
SMECO is a customer-owned electric cooperative providing electricity to more than 156,000 services in southern Prince George’s County, and in Charles County, St. Mary’s County, and all but the northeast portion of Calvert County. Co-ops are distinctly different from investor-owned utilities because co-ops are owned by their customers, and these members elect the men and women who serve on the Board of Directors.
Co-ops also issue capital credits to their members. What are capital credits? They are the member’s share of the co-op’s margins, based on how much electricity the member purchased and the rate at which the account was billed. SMECO’s margins—revenue less expenses—are used as working capital for new construction and system improvements. When SMECO’s Board of Directors determines that a percentage of the capital credits can be distributed to members through a general refund, capital credits will be issued by check or credited to members’ electric bills.
Follow SMECO on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SMECO.coop and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/somdelectric . The SMECO 24/7 mobile app is available at www.smeco.coop/ourservices/smeco247.aspx.
