Can youthful vigor and budding brains overcome the life experience of their elders in a match of wits, wisdom, memory and just plain common sense in a Jeopardy-like contest?
Come to the Knowledge Bowl and experience a true “Battle of the Ages,” now in its eighth year. This time, four teens from Ventura’s Blue-Ribbon Award winning school, Foothill Technology High, face off against four experienced elders from two Ventura-area senior nursing facilities, the Ventura Townehouse and Coastal View.
The free public contest starts at 2 p.m. Monday, June 5 at the Ventura Townehouse’s Vista Room, 4900 Telegraph Rd., across from Ventura College.
“The Knowledge Bowl is an extension of my idea to unite our community by building bridges between the ages,” said Suz Montgomery. She is the founder of the Knowledge Bowl, arising from her work with the school district’s Ventura Adult and Continuing Education (VACE).
The event draws many dignitaries along with the public, most of whom can’t help themselves by answering the questions to each other; in a whisper, of course. It also attracts the local print media and will be filmed by CAPS-TV (Channel 15).
The team of elders includes three retired teachers: Ethel Johnduff, Clint Jacobs, Mary Ayres and one entrepreneur, Charlie McMillan. Montgomery is their coach.
The Foothill team is coached by Linda Kapala, the school’s Career/Media Specialist who also crafted most of the questions. She has gathered a team consisting of one senior, Chris Clark; two juniors, Simon Reyes and Angela Zablocki, and Sophomore Mason King.
Cabrillo Middle School Principal Lorelle Dawes is back as the Bowl’s long-time moderator who asks alternating questions to each team. If the team can’t answer or answers incorrectly, it is asked of the other team.
Last year’s Bowl was a squeaker, with each team correctly answering 21 questions each. A last question allows each team to bet some or all its points. Both teams identified the names of all four Beatles, and both bet 21 points to tie, which earned a standing ovation from the audience.
