A “First”
The 2010 African American Male Academic Bowl — the first event of its kind in the Dallas area — is an inaugural event designed to encourage young African-American males (grades 4 through 7) to study hard, work hard and achieve their dreams: to aim high and succeed. Why? African-American males lag behind standard benchmarks in school. Because they are failing, they become academically disadvantaged, which potentially can lead to paths in life that are both discouraging and destructive. By generating excitement at an early age for learning and academic competition, organizers hope to influence young African-American males to succeed in the classroom and in life.
Brains, Not Brawn
Brains, not brawn, count in school and at home. Smart starts early — in elementary and middle school; as a result, the 2010 African American Male Academic Bowl will bring together 21 teams from across the Dallas Independent School District to compete in a contest that will test their minds and their mettle as they face off in a “Jeopardy”-style event on Saturday, Jan. 30. Teams comprise 4th/5th graders and 6th/7th graders who compete with their grade-level peers.
The event will be held at the Bill J. Priest Campus of El Centro College, 1402 Corinth St. in Dallas. The general public is invited to attend several information sessions in the morning, beginning at 10 a.m., as the initial rounds of the competition are held. The championship rounds will begin at approximately 1 p.m. in room 1530, Hoblitzelle Auditorium. Two teams will emerge as champions — one 4th/5th-grade team and one 6th/7th-grade team. Prizes will be awarded to teams that place both first and second in the competition. All students will receive a backpack, T-shirt and certificate of participation.
Sponsors
Sponsors include Dallas County Community College District, the University of Texas at Dallas, Project Still I Rise Inc., AT&T, Merit Provisions and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. Co-chairs are Dr. Wright Lassiter Jr., DCCCD chancellor, and Dr. David Daniel, president of UTD. David Robinson, a DCCCD coordinator of community outreach, recruitment and community engagement, is the event director.
Format
Based on academic bowls from more than 40 years ago, the event incorporates a “Jeopardy”-style format in which students choose one of five categories of questions, plus point values. They respond with buzzers so that they can be recognized and answer their questions. Categories include African-American history, mathematics, science, African-American “firsts,” and geography. Each division — 4th/5th grade and 6th/7th grade — holds single-elimination rounds until the day culminates with a championship round for each group to determine the academic bowl winners. Parents, families and the general public can view the championship rounds.
Information
Contact David Robinson at (214) 378-1728 or
drobinson@dcccd.edu, or visit the
African American Male Academic Bowl’s Web site.