Programs : WorldQuest

       
WorldQuest, a World Affairs Council of Maine signature program held annually in April, is an international knowledge competition for teams of eight players of all ages and backgrounds. Many teams are intergenerational, combining students and participants from Maine companies or community organizations. The winning secondary school team is offered the opportunity to attend the national Academic WorldQuest competition with annual support from World Affairs Council of Maine. Developed by the World Affairs Council of Raleigh, North Carolina, the WorldQuest international knowledge competition has spread nation-wide and is one of the Council’s most popular programs.

This year's event, held on April 10, was hosted by UNUM in downtown Portland. Teams of Council members, schools, businesses, and non-profits were challenged by six ten-question rounds on international subjects. The categories included the areas of geography, current affairs, international organizations, culture and tradition, international currency, flags and festivals and international treaties and agreements.

The first place college winners hailed from SMCC while the first place high school winners were from Freeport High. Freeport High will represent Maine at the National WorldQuest competition in Washington, D.C., next year. They will be sponsored by UNUM. Altogether, eighteen tables of participants, including sixty students attended, making the evening full of fun and excitement, laughter and sighs.

The World Affairs Council of Maine would have been unable to host WorldQuest without the terrific support of its sponsors: Agawam Council, Bath Savings Institution, Bernstein Shur, Council on International Dielectric Communications, Educational Exchange, Fairchild Semiconductor, Gorham High School, Head and Associates, Joseph A. Keaney CPA, Mainebiz, University of New England, University of Southern Maine, Unum, World Affairs Council of Maine

Generous donors provided terrific prizes for winning contestants. These donors included: Migis LodgeBeacon of Healing, Borders, DeLorme, Fast Frame, Greater Portland Landmarks, Gritty McDuff’s, L.L. Bean, Local 188, Lyric Music Theater, Maine Historical Society, Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, Now You’re Cooking, Old Country Buffet, Old Port Candy, Panera Bread, Pjepscot Historical Museum, Portland Museum of Art, Portland Pirates, Portland Sea Dogs, Portland Stage Company, Sherwin Williams, Standard Baking Company, Victoria Mansion, Deborah Barouch, Matthew Gardner, Maureen Hurley, Elizabeth McLellan, Tim Seavey, John and Kathleen Sutherland, Jeff Thaler, Sam Townsend, World Affairs Council Facilitators of Great Decisions at OLLI.