16 NH HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS TO COMPETE IN 2015 GSC SEASON

(DURHAM, November 19, 2014) — Do you know who the first African-American woman elected to Congress was? Or the year New Hampshire ratified the Constitution and became a state?** Fifty-four teams from high schools across New Hampshire had to answer those and 98 other questions at the GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE Super Sunday qualifying event November 16th at Plymouth State University. They were competing for the 16 berths in the 31st season of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE, which premieres February 7th at 6 PM on NHPTV PRIME. Eighteen teams scored high enough to be in the running for one of the 16 slots: 14 teams are now guaranteed to play, and four teams will compete in two non-televised games for the other two places. The teams are:14 FINAL TEAMSBishop Guertin High School, NashuaConcord High School, ConcordAcademy for Science and Design, NashuaPinkerton Academy, DerryManchester Central High School, ManchesterPortsmouth Christian Academy, DoverBow High School, BowDover High School, DoverNashua High School South, NashuaJohn Stark Regional High School, WeareKingswood Regional High School, WolfeboroPlymouth Regional High School, PlymouthHanover High School, HanoverMerrimack High School, Merrimack4 TEAMS COMPETING FOR TWO SLOTSGoffstown High School, GoffstownKennett High School, N. ConwayStevens High School, ClaremontMascoma Valley Regional High School, Canaan Look for exciting angles to the games this season, including an interactive, online quiz version of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE where individuals can take the Challenge and play against each other in real time. Also, for a third year, there will be a Granite State vs. Bay State match between the winners of the GRANITE STATE SUPERCHALLENGE and the WGBH Boston High School Quiz Show. 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 poses the Challenge questions to the teams; co-host Lori Warriner goes behind-the-scenes to interview them. GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE is generously funded by lead sponsor Unitil, a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England; additional funding is provided by DF Richard, Markem-Imaje, Heinemann, NEA New Hampshire, the NHHEAF Network and Measured Progress."The sheer amount of brainpower in the room on Super Sunday was staggering! Kudos to all the talented and hard-working students who tried out for this year's show," said Carol Valianti, Unitil's VP of communications and public affairs. "The competition seems to get tougher every year and this season of Granite State Challenge is shaping up to be the most exciting one yet!"The 31st season of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE premieres February 7th at 6 PM, with multiple airdates on NHPTV PRIME and NHPTV EXPLORE. All games can be watched online at http://video.nhptv.org, on YouTube or iTunes. Online GSC quizzes help keep students and audiences involved in the game. www.nhptv.org/gsc** Answers: Shirley Chisholm, 1788

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