The 'It's Academic' Program
Focus On Achievement
U.S. Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chuck Schumer, along with political commentator George Stephanopoulos were on their schools' "It's Academic" teams in other cities where the Emmy-winning show was produced. Movie star Sandra Bullock was a member of the cheerleading squad that came to the NBC4 studio to root for Washington-Lee High School.
The program is sponsored in Washington (and also in Baltimore and Central Virginia) by Giant Food, which has set up a unique scholarship program, awarding grants to each of the participating schools. To date Giant Food has awarded over $2,000,000 in scholarships through "It's Academic".
Each year 81 secondary schools from all over the metropolitan area - public, parochial, private, suburban, and inner-city - participate in the "It's Academic" program.
Reaction to the program has always been extremely enthusiastic. Schools, parents, educators and students have been unflagging in their loyalty to "It's Academic", which in turn motivates students to a higher level of academic achievement. The admiration and respect normally reserved for athletic heroes are extended to the students who represent their schools on the program. Competition is fierce, and students put in many hours of study and practice before they appear on the program.
Outside the studio, educators have found "It's Academic" to be a unique teaching tool, and frequently stage their own in-school and area-wide contests. "It's Academic" clubs have been established as official extra-curricular activities in many school systems, in order to bring the benefits of academic competition to the widest number of students.
"It's Academic" has won a number of state and national awards, and is endorsed by the National Association of School Boards.
These days the media is flooded with stories about the problems of our education system. In the midst of all this gloom, "It's Academic" gets the community to focus its attention on the very real achievement of the bright, well-educated young people who compete on "It's Academic".
The program is sponsored in Washington (and also in Baltimore and Central Virginia) by Giant Food, which has set up a unique scholarship program, awarding grants to each of the participating schools. To date Giant Food has awarded over $2,000,000 in scholarships through "It's Academic".
Each year 81 secondary schools from all over the metropolitan area - public, parochial, private, suburban, and inner-city - participate in the "It's Academic" program.
Reaction to the program has always been extremely enthusiastic. Schools, parents, educators and students have been unflagging in their loyalty to "It's Academic", which in turn motivates students to a higher level of academic achievement. The admiration and respect normally reserved for athletic heroes are extended to the students who represent their schools on the program. Competition is fierce, and students put in many hours of study and practice before they appear on the program.
Outside the studio, educators have found "It's Academic" to be a unique teaching tool, and frequently stage their own in-school and area-wide contests. "It's Academic" clubs have been established as official extra-curricular activities in many school systems, in order to bring the benefits of academic competition to the widest number of students.
"It's Academic" has won a number of state and national awards, and is endorsed by the National Association of School Boards.
These days the media is flooded with stories about the problems of our education system. In the midst of all this gloom, "It's Academic" gets the community to focus its attention on the very real achievement of the bright, well-educated young people who compete on "It's Academic".
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