Academic WorldQuest
Academic WorldQuest™ (AWQ) is the World Affairs Councils of America’s flagship youth education program. It is a fun, fast-paced team competition for high school students, testing players’ knowledge of international politics, geography, global economics, history, and world cultures. Some 50 World Affairs Councils hold AWQ competitions for high school students in their communities each year. Winning teams travel to Washington, DC, in April to vie for the national championship. For more information on the national AWQ program click here.
The World Affairs Council of Charleston sponsors a local Academic WorldQuest™ competition each year and invites teams from local high schools to participate. If your high school is interested in participating, contact Dave Neff, Chair of the Education Outreach Committee, at [email protected] or (843) 408-1160.
2024
This year's local AWQ Competition was held at Charleston Southern University on Saturday, March 2. Five teams from three high schools participated: Academic Magnet HS, Ashley Hall, and the Charleston Charter School for Math & Science. Sponsorships from Charleston Southern University, United Bank, and the Donaldson Charitable Trust made the event possible.
The M.A.D. Lads from Academic Magnet won the competition for the third year in a row, and will go on to compete for the national title in Washington, D.C. The national event, hosted by the World Affairs Councils of America, was held April 19-20. The M.A.D. Lads traveled to Washington D.C. with all expenses paid, thanks to sponsorships and donations from WACC members.
The M.A.D. Lads team tied for 14th in a field of 37 schools from around the country. Congratulations to the students and their teacher-coaches!
2023
Six teams from three high schools participated in the local competition on February 25th at Charleston Southern University: Academic Magnet High School, Ashley Hall School, and Charleston Charter School for Math and Science. The teams responded to 100 questions, 10 questions from each of 10 different topics.
And the 2023 local winners were...
The M.A.D. Team from Academic Magnet High School!
L to R: Teacher/Coach Andy Rusciolelli, Kabir Zaman, Finlay Palmer, All teams participating in local competition
Jefferey Song, Willa Wiley, and Dave Neff, WACC Education Outreach Chair
Click here to see more photos of the February 25th local AWQ competition.
The M.A.D. Team advanced to the national competition in Washington, DC, on April 28-29, and placed 6th in a field of 39 schools from around the country. Congratulations to the students and their teacher-coaches!
The winning team, Academic Magnet HS, received a check for $2,000 toward scholarship funds. This award was just part of a generous grant of $5,000 from the Donaldson Charitable Trust to support our Academic WorldQuest program. 
L to R: Thomas Ruppell, WACC Treasurer; Willa Wiley; Jeffrey Song; Finlay Palmer
2022
The 2022 competition was held on March 12, at the Cooper River Center for Advanced Studies in North Charleston. Team M.A.D. Lads from the Academic Magnet High School won the local competition and went on to finish 8th of 42 teams from across the country in the national competition, April 29 and 30 in Washington, DC.
Click here to view a great video on the 2022 AWQ event!
Ken Fox accepts a $650 grant award from Don Smith and Elizabeth Goodman of the Rotary Club of North Charleston in support of WACC's Academic WorldQuest program.
2022 winning team: The M.A.D. Lads from Academic Magnet High School in Charleston, SC
2021
With the 2019-2020 AWQ competitions abruptly canceled due to the pandemic closures in March 2020, then teacher/coach Kimberly Zerbst from Academic Magnet High School continued this extracurricular activity in the 2020-2021 academic year when she recognized her students' enthusiasm for this endeavor. Charleston’s Academic Magnet High School was highly successful, with two teams in the 2021 Academic WorldQuest National Competition, held virtually on April 17, 2021. Both teams advanced to the national competition following their success in the Charlotte, NC, virtual regional competition on March 24. Academic Magnet High School teams finished 9th and 14th in the 2021 virtual national competition out of 105 teams from across the nation. The 9th place team included Caroline Tiller, Lily Skinner, Paisley Hodges, and Finlay Palmer. The team that placed 14th included Briggs Murray, Angela Mei, Kabir Zaman, and Burton McCulley.
2021 Academic Magnet High School Teams
For questions regarding WACC’s local program, please email [email protected].
AWQ funding is not included in present WACC revenues. Sponsors and donations to support the AWQ program are needed and greatly appreciated. To donate, please click on the button below, and thank you!
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