SENATE RESOLUTION 103

(By Senators Takubo, Palumbo, and Jeffries)

[Introduced May 20, 2019]

Congratulating the George Washington High School Patriots History Bowl team for winning the West Virginia State History Bowl Championship and qualifying for the coveted Final Four of the 2019 National History Bowl Varsity Championship.

Whereas, Academic events provide students the opportunity to gain confidence, make new friends, strengthen long-term memory knowledge, help with university admissions, and ignite a passion for lifelong-learning; and

Whereas, West Virginia students can, and do, compete successfully in state, regional, and national academic competitions; and

Whereas, The George Washington High School Patriots History Bowl team consists of students committed to reading and learning about world and United States history; and

Whereas, The George Washington High School Patriots History Bowl team displayed its strong will, quick buzzer fingers, and deep knowledge of United States and world history for an entire season; and

Whereas, The George Washington High School Patriots Varsity History Bowl team practiced weekly, competed locally, and won the West Virginia state championship this past winter; and

Whereas, The team also travelled to compete regionally in the New Jersey Regional State Championship and the Western Pennsylvania National History Bowl; and

Whereas, During their regular season, the George Washington High School Patriots History Bowl team were only beaten by two other teams, Hunter College High School from New York City and Taylor-Allderdice from Pennsylvania; and

Whereas, The team is coached by parents Dawn Combs, Tara Wood, and Phil Combs, and consists of team members: Senior, Varun Kukkillaya; juniors, Walker Combs and Ben Woods (captain); sophomore, Adam Keith; and freshman, Reese Mason; and

Whereas, The George Washington High School Patriots History Bowl team travelled to Arlington, Virginia, to compete in the 2019 National History Bowl Varsity Championship where 144 of the top public, private, and homeschool history bowl teams from 37 states participated in the event hosted by International Academic Competitions (IAC), which was founded by Jeopardy! game show champion David Madden.  Mr. Madden has used his winnings from Jeopardy! to further the growth and development of IAC, the parent organization of the National History Bee and Bowl; and 

Whereas, The George Washington High School Patriots History Bowl team was seeded 11th going into the playoffs.  During the playoffs, they beat the #6, #7, and #14 ranked teams in head-to-head matches; and

Whereas, The George Washington High School Patriots History Bowl team prevailed in a Backyard Brawl revenge match game against the premier Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania team, Taylor-Allderdice High School. That victory advanced the team to the Final Four, after winning 13 rounds during 2 days at the academic event; and

Whereas, The George Washington High School Patriots Varsity History Bowl team lost by one question in a close Final Four match to Arcadia High School from California; and   

Whereas, The team placed fourth in the nation, which is the best finish by any George Washington High School Patriots History Bowl team in the history of the national competition; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby congratulates the George Washington High School Patriots History Bowl team for winning the West Virginia State History Bowl Championship and qualifying for the coveted Final Four of the 2019 National History Bowl Varsity Championship; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the George Washington High School Patriots History Bowl team.