Seniors and high school students fought it out in a “Battle of the Ages”.
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?
The Knowledge Bowl is 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 was held on Monday, June 5 at the Ventura Townehouse’s Vista Room.
“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 was filmed by CAPS-TV so you may watch it there.
The team of elders included three retired teachers Ethel Johnduff, Clint Jacobs, Mary Ayres and Al Siegel.
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.
As usual this year’s contest was a squeaker with the seniors barely out-witting the students.
