News Release
Goldenview Middle School Student Wins 2006 Wild About Anchorage Trivia Contest
Anchorage, Alaska – April 27, 2006 – If out of town visitors ask you how many mountain peaks exist within the Chugach Park; what is Anchorage’s average temperature in January; or how many caribou herds live in Alaska, do you know the answers? These are just a few of the questions Anchorage 7th graders studied before facing off against their peers today at the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center. (The answers are 155, 14.9 and 32.) In the end, Goldenview Middle School student Samuel Dougherty was named the first place winner of the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) Wild About Anchorage Trivia Contest.
“All the practice and hard work paid off,” Dougherty said. “My teacher played a big part in this. All my teachers are very gung ho about the Wild About Anchorage Trivia Contest.”
The trivia contest is a fun way for students to learn more about their city and the invaluable role tourism plays as an economic engine for Anchorage.
“It’s always valuable to know the history and facts about the city you live in as well as the surrounding areas,” said Julie Saupe, ACVB’s vice president of community member & visitor relations. “We have so many unique and exciting features in Anchorage and southcentral Alaska. ACVB is pleased to share that information through the students.”
Seven Anchorage middle schools fielded teams for this year’s contest. The contestants were quizzed on more than 100 questions before making it to the eighth and final round. Barnaby Walker of Goldenview Middle School took second place. Third place went to Ariel Zlatkovski of Gruening Middle School. Hannah Langlie of Romig Middle School came in fourth. Jessi Imler of Gruening Middle School placed fifth. Olin Blackmore of Romig Middle School took sixth place and Xiunell Gomez of Mears Middle School was the seventh place winner.
All the winners were awarded several prizes. First place winner, Samuel Dougherty won a trophy, a Whittier Glacier tour and lunch from the Visitors Benefit Alaska and North West Cruiseship Association, a one night stay at Comfort Inn – Chena River, a book from the Visions of Nature, an ice-cream party for his class from Jewel Lake Tastee Freez and an invitation to the May ACVB luncheon with his parents and his sponsoring teacher.
Students in teacher Janna Walker’s class at Central Middle School worked behind the scenes for several months to organize the Wild About Anchorage Trivia Contest. They handled all aspects of the event, including booking facilities at the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center, serving as timekeepers and event planners, inviting the media to come to the contest and acting as the ACVB critters. The Wild About Anchorage Trivia Contest proved to be a rewarding experience for all the students involved.
First place winner Samuel Dougherty has some advice for students participating in the Wild About Anchorage Trivia Contest next year: study hard. He says it’s also a good idea for students to go out and experience what Anchorage has to offer to add to their knowledge base.
“You don’t have to win the trivia contest to get the whole experience,” Dougherty adds. “It’s just a lot of fun to participate in.”
The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund and one-third goes to the Anchorage Civic and Convention construction project. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. For more information, explore www.Anchorage.net.
### Media Contacts:
Laura Tanis
Public Relations Manager
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
ltanis@anchorage.net
(907) 257-2331 direct
(907) 250-5285 cell
(907) 222-3752 fax
Nance Larsen, APR
Vice President, Communications & Marketing Programs
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
nlarsen@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118 direct
