(DURHAM, November 14, 2012) — Fifty New Hampshire high school academic teams from around the state will be at Southern New Hampshire University on “Super Sunday,” November 18th, vying for one of 16 team spots in the 29th season of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE. The new Super Sunday qualifying contest will feature school teams of up to six players from grades 9 – 12 taking a written quiz together. The 16 teams with the highest scores will qualify to play in the 29th season of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE, which will begin airing in February on Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on New Hampshire Public Television. Through spirited competition and questions that align with state curriculum standards, GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE is an entertaining and educational series that generates school pride and has an enthusiastic on-air and online audience. Schools competing on Super Sunday for one of 16 slots in the GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE season include: Academy for Science & DesignAlvirne High SchoolBedford High SchoolBerlin High SchoolBishop Brady High SchoolBow High SchoolCoe-Brown Northwood AcademyColebrook AcademyConant High SchoolConcord High SchoolDover High SchoolEpping High SchoolExeter High SchoolFall Mountain Regional High SchoolFarmington High SchoolGoffstown High SchoolHanover High SchoolInter-Lakes High SchoolJohn Stark Regional High SchoolKeene High SchoolKingswood Regional High SchoolLaconia High SchoolLisbon Regional SchoolManchester Central High SchoolMascoma Valley Regional High SchoolMerrimack High SchoolMerrimack Valley High SchoolMilford High SchoolMount Zion Christian SchoolsNashua North High SchoolNashua South High SchoolNew Hampton SchoolNute Middle/High SchoolOyster River High SchoolPelham High SchoolPinkerton AcademyPlymouth Regional High SchoolPortsmouth Christian AcademyProspect Mountain High SchoolRaymond High SchoolSanborn Regional High SchoolSant Bani SchoolSpaulding High SchoolSteven High SchoolWhite Mountains RegionalWindham High SchoolWinnacunnet High SchoolWinnisquam Regional High School New Hampshire’s top high school academic team sport went on hiatus in 2011 after NHPTV lost all its state funding, which helped support the popular, long-running program. Now, thanks to the generosity of lead sponsor Unitil Corporation, a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England, the new season of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE will premiere in February to challenge high school students and viewers. It will air Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on NHPTV PRIME, and re-air later in the week on NHPTV PRIME and NHPTV EXPLORE. Look for exciting new angles to the games this season, including a Granite State vs. Bay State match between the winners of the GRANITE STATE SUPERCHALLENGE and the WGBH Boston High School Quiz Show. Also new this year is an interactive, online quiz version of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE where individuals can take the Challenge and play against each other in real time.Each of the six students (4 team members and the alternates) of the winning GRANITE STATE SUPERCHALLENGE team will receive a $1,000 award from the NHHEAF Network/ I Am College Bound.org program. The winning school also receives $1,000 and a trophy, and the runner-up school receives $500. It takes a winning combination of knowledge, teamwork, grace under pressure, and a quick buzzer reflex to play GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE. The program brings New Hampshire’s top high school academic teams head-to-head in lively competition. The game emphasizes quick recall of factual material in all major disciplines – math, science, social studies, language arts and fine arts – along with a mix of questions about current events, entertainment, sports, and regional topics. Host Jim Jeannotte asks the Challenge questions to the teams; co-host Lori Warriner goes behind-the-scenes to interview team members. GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE is generously funded by lead sponsor Unitil; additional funding is provided by the NHHEAF Network Organizations, DF Richard, Markem-Imaje, Heinemann and Measured Progress.“Granite State Challenge is a cherished part of New Hampshire culture, and we’re honored to help invigorate a program that celebrates—indeed, casts a spotlight on—the state’s promising young students,” said Carol Valianti, Unitil’s vice president of communications and public affairs. If you miss a match and want to see how your favorite team fared, watch GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE online at http://video.nhptv.org, on YouTube or iTunes. Online GSC quizzes help keep students and audiences involved in the game.
About New Hampshire PBS: New Hampshire PBS inspires one million Granite Staters each month with engaging and trusted local and national programs and services on-air, online, via mobile, in classrooms and in communities. Beyond its award-winning television programs, New Hampshire PBS is a leader in education and community engagement. www.nhpbs.org
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