It began as a national television show in 1966, and while Reach for the Top doesn’t hit the airways anymore, it’s continued the scholarly showdown off-camera with thousands of students across the country taking part each year.
This past weekend, Dal’s Agricultural Campus hosted the provincial Reach for the Top competition, at which over over 50 high school students gathered to test their smarts on everything from math, science and history to pop culture.
This is the fifth consecutive year that Dalhousie has been the event’s primary sponsor. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the focus which Dal brings to provincials and the great cooperation they provide,” says Hans Budgey, event organizer.
Budgey is a life-long Reach for the Top supporter who has organized the Nova Scotia event since 1998. The Dal Biology alumnus watched the show on CBC as a child, competed as a player while in high school, acted as a quiz-master for the provincial showdown since 1988, and then took over the provincial coordinator role from his mother, Elfriede, who ran the program the previous 12 years.
“I think that Reach for the Top is important as an outlet for bright, competitive students who value knowledge and enjoy pitting their academic strength against other like-minded young people,” says Budgey. “Many players gain confidence and friendship from playing Reach for the Top and it shows them that there are others who still care about the idea of ‘knowing stuff.’
“In today's climate of technology and social media, the pursuit of knowledge for the fun of knowing is worth preserving.”
With seven schools competing to represent Nova Scotia at the national finals in Toronto later this month, it was the Truro-based Cobequid Education Centre (CEC) that pulled out the win. Their prize includes a cheque for $1,000, sponsored by Dal, to help offset travel costs associated with competing on the national stage.
“The weekend overall went well,” said Ryan Porter, a grade 12 student at CEC who was part of the winning team. “The other teams competing had some strong players. We all had a great time and were able to make some new friends. Overall, we competed well as a team and are very happy to bring the championship to CEC.”
He also thanked Dalhousie, the organizers and coaches for helping make the weekend possible.
Competing students, along with coaches, chaperones and officials, were provided with a complimentary lunch on Saturday courtesy of Dal, as well as “swag bags” presented by university recruiters.
Best of luck to CEC as they prepare to compete at the national championships!
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