Regional competitions, for most, don’t start until at least middle school. But for five talented fourth-grade Hixson Elementary students, getting to compete in Knoxville was something they’d been aiming for all semester.
The team recently returned from contending at the regional Clover Bowl academic competition, where it advanced to the second round before being eliminated by Sullivan County. The Hixson team won the Hamilton County competition on April 26, which earned them the right to compete at regionals.
The competition is affiliated with each school’s 4-H club. The competition is in a quiz-bowl format, with the students able to buzz in on questions.
Trip sponsor and fourth-grade teacher Sue Lawson said the kids were extremely excited about their trip, although they were disappointed in their results.
“It was the first time any of them got to compete in something like this,” she said. “But we’re very proud of them for getting to go to Knoxville.”
The team of five had been practicing and studying since the beginning of the semester for the county tournament, said Lawson. They only had a few weeks in preparation for the regional competition after winning the county.
“They were beyond excited – along with the whole school – when they won at the county level,” she said. “We’ll get to keep the trophy here at Hixson for a year, and if they repeat their win, it gets to come back.”
The questions put an emphasis on regional Tennessee history and science, said Lawson, and were designed to keep the kids thinking on their feet.
Although the 4-H club at HES has traditionally been something only for fourth-graders at Hixson Elementary, Lawson didn’t rule out that the team could return to compete as fifth-graders.