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What started as a national television show over 50 years ago is now one of the most anticipated high school events for students at Cobequid Educational Centre (CEC). Although no longer a hit TV show, the annual Reach for the Top competition sees thousands of high school students from across the country compete for top spot.

As a long-time sponsor of Nova Scotia’s provincial Reach for the Top competition, Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture once again hosted the competition at the Agricultural Campus in Truro on Saturday, April 29. Reach for the Top, Canada’s longest-running academic quiz game, has been around since the 1960’s. It features two teams of four players each answering questions from any and all subject areas. It requires speed on the buzzers and fast recall, along with a good overall general knowledge.

The provincial competition saw 30 players representing five teams from Pugwash District High School, Horton High School, Hants East Rural High School, Cobequid Educational Centre, and Auburn Drive High School. The winning school was Auburn Drive High School with Horton High School bringing home a close second and Cobequid Educational Centre placing third. Both of the top two teams, Auburn Drive High School and Horton High School are eligible to move onto the national finals in Toronto in late May.

Armaan Dhillin, team captain of Auburn Drive High School’s Reach for the Top team, is thrilled to be representing Nova Scotia at the national finals in Toronto later on this month. A grade 12 student, Armaan has no regrets about his journey with the Reach for the Top team.

“I first got involved in Reach for the Top in my first year of high school by kind of just walking straight into it,” Armaan laughs. “Prior to that I had really never heard of it before. I don't think a lot of young Canadians are nearly as aware of Reach for the Top as previous generations.”

“For me, being in Reach for the Top is really a good way to meet a variety of people with different backgrounds and interests. I think it's a very equalizing game. Because of its really general nature, there's something in it for everyone. Competing can be a stressful time, but it's also really fun as it allows an opportunity for us to test our skills against some pretty tough, and generally unpredictable, opponents. The thing is, you never know what kind of question you could get so it's very difficult to predict an outcome.”

Hosted in the Haley Institute at Dal AC, Hans Budgey, manager of the CEC team, explains that Dal AC’s support is extremely important to the success of the competition and that students truly value the competitive nature of Reach for the Top.

“Having Dal AC as a sponsor is integral in keeping the event going,” Hans explains. “The goals of Reach for the Top are to foster academic competitiveness and provide an outlet for students who feel that knowledge matters. Students enjoy the competitive nature of the event but also thrive on meeting other academically-inclined students who love learning. We are truly grateful that Dal AC continues to support and foster these bright minds by hosting the provincial competition.”

Students also recognize the importance of Dal AC’s contribution to the provincial competition.

“Support for Reach for the Top is critical, as funding for arts and humanities has been decreasing in public education for years,” Armaan says. “Reach for the Top in Nova Scotia is at risk of disappearing but thanks to some amazing teachers and sources of funding like Dal AC we're hoping to make a comeback!”

As a primary sponsor of the competition, Dal AC awarded $1,000 to the winning team. The prize money will go toward fees associated with competing at nationals in Toronto in late May. In addition, competitors had the chance to participate in a photo scavenger hunt which gave them the opportunity to explore and learn about the Agricultural Campus. Dr. Chris Cutler, Associate Professor, Assistant Dean International, opened the competition and welcomed the high school students. Dr. David Gray, Dean Faculty of Agriculture, also acknowledged the competitors and awarded the winning team as the competition concluded.

“Hosting the regional competition of Reach for the Top on the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus is a natural fit for our Faculty,” explained Dr. Gray. “Our students, as well as these high school competitors, are passionate, knowledgeable and driven to excel – the kind of students who will make a difference in the world around them. Congratulations to all who participated!”