Academic Games locally may be over, but students are still hard at work studying for Nationals. Academic Games, also known as AGOLA (Academic Games Leagues of America), is a competition between students of all different ages, challenging them to use higher thinking. Students compete in seven different games; those games are Equations, Propaganda, Theme, Current Events, Presidents, On-sets, and Linguishtiks.
Equations is a game where a student creates a mathematical equation, and the other students have to create another equation that equals the same outcome. Propaganda is a game in which students try to figure out which persuasion technique is being used. Theme is a game about historical events that varies year to year; this year’s theme is all about Norse Mythology. Current Events is a game where students have to learn about major political and cultural events from the past year. Presidents is a game where students learn about presidents’ lives and other facts about them. On-sets is a math-based game where students use Set Theory and other math techniques to win. Finally, there is Linguishtiks, a game that challenges students to improve their grammar, vocab, and writing skills. Freedom does not play either On-sets or Linguishtiks.
This year’s Nationals are being held at the Sheraton & Le Méridien Hotel Complex in Charlotte, North Carolina, from Friday, April 24, to Monday, April 27. To go to Nationals, students have to qualify in at least two games at county competitions. Though qualifying varies by game, it is usually the top 15% of scores. Once they qualify, they have to pick either two or three games in which they qualified to play. Students then go to their games in their assigned division: elementary (grades 5-6), middle (grades 7-8), junior (grades 9-10), and senior (grades 11-12). Once kids go to their games, they have assigned seats with different students from all over the state. Once a game finishes, the coaches will tape up the scores for each game, showing the students’ place and how many points they got in total. Once all the games are played, on the last day, they host a trophy ceremony, giving trophies and awards to students who have won, though no one from our school has won individually at Academic Games Nationals.
“Students choose which games they want to play[at nationals], and they participate in those games. As determined by the schedule and depending on how they do, they can win awards as a team or as an individual,” Ms. Jennifer Glover, Academic Games Coach, said.
The students who have qualified for nationals are Nolan Murphy (5), Mason Wayandt (5), Naomi Kaskalavich (6), Alexa Carr (6), Lucas Schomburg (7), Isaac Mattern (7), Lucas Miller (7), Lincoln Hoover (7), Lincoln Murphy (8), Katelyn VanDeCar (9), Oliva VanDeCar (11), Calla Reynolds (12), and Colton Blank (12).
“The kids work really, really hard and they go, and they do really well, but it’s also a time and place for them to have fun, meet other people from all over our country,” Ms. Glover said.
