The following press release was written by Media Relations Intern Richard Tyler, a junior broadcast journalism/public relations major from St. Clairsville, Ohio.

West Liberty University is hosting the fifth annual High School Civics Challenge, an original quiz-based, televised competition between area high schools.

The civics challenge showcases talented students from local schools, gives them a chance to win scholarship money to WLU and a chance to be involved with student broadcasting at WLU-TV. 

The members of the winning team will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship to attend West Liberty University. The second place team members will be awarded a $500 scholarship.

The format of the challenge is a half hour “quiz bowl” trivia show. Teams consist of four students with two alternates. Questions focus on social studies, history, civics, business, geography and popular culture.

Participating schools for 2014 include: Brooke, Buckeye Local, John Marshall, Magnolia, River, Shadyside, Steubenville and Toronto high schools. John Marshall High School, Moundsville, W.Va., is the two-time defending champion and is defending its title this year.

The West Liberty University High School Civics Challenge will air on ABC Ohio Valley, on Saturdays at noon. The broadcast can also be viewed via USTREAM and will be rebroadcast by WLU-TV, Comcast Channel 14.

The challenge will air at noon, Saturdays. Quarterfinals are every Saturday from March 15 – April 5, 2014, semifinals are April 12 – April 19, 2014 and the finals will air at noon, April 26, 2014.

The annual civics competition seeks to encourage students to study and enjoy facts about local and national government, citizenship and politics, according to Vice President for Community Engagement Jeff Knierim, who coordinates the academic competition.

For more information, please contact Knierim at 304-336-8301. To view an image of the WLU-TV taping visit the WLUTV 14 Facebook page.