Lights, Camera, Answer!

As if competition wasn't hard enough, Energy Bowl participants survived the scrutiny of television cameras as they competed in this year's competition. Star students became local stars as Energy Bowl 2006 made WNEG News Channel 32.

Sixteen students competed in the first two rounds of short answers before the five highest scorers moved on to the fast-fingered buzzer round. In spite of the fierce competition and television cameras, Luke Maloney, a North Hall High School junior, correctly answered enough science and energy questions to secure his win.

Front row: Athena Lao (Clarke Central High School); Justin Coleman (Winder-Barrow High School); Luke Maloney (North Hall High School); Stephanie Davies (Chestatee High School); and Daryan Rachimzadeh (Grayson High School).   Back row: Yihe Dong (Cedar Shoals High School); Brittany Harkins (Johnson High School); Suhag Patel (Jackson County Comprehensive High School); Win Blair (Commerce High School); Brian Scott (Franklin County High School); Calum McCulloch (Maranatha Christian Academy); Isaiah Gober (Flowery Branch High School); Korey Brown (East Hall High School); David Brannen (Hebron Christian Academy); Evelyn Murray (Gainesville High School); and Michael Ball (West Hall High School).

Runner-up Athena Lao of Clarke Central High School had a tense moment of her own when she and Justin Coleman of Winder-Barrow High School squared off in a tie-breaking round to compete for the runner-up spot. In a high-energy buzzer round, the first student to answer a tie-breaking question wins. Before the announcer could ask the entire question, Athena buzzed in with the answer to claim her runner-up spot.

Maloney walked away with a $1,000 scholarship, a $1,000 grant for his high school and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the Washington Youth Tour. All participants received a $25 Best Buy gift card and Jackson EMC CD holder, and finalists won Palm Zire handheld organizers.

In addition to the local news, Jackson County Comprehensive High School's student video production team taped the competition for a special promotional piece. The piece will be distributed to high schools throughout Jackson EMC's service territory to promote future Energy Bowl competitions.

For more information on Energy Bowl or any of our youth programs, contact Kay Parks at 706-367-6122 or by email at kparks@jacksonemc.com.