USC crowned Hometown High Q champs
June 29, 2022
USC crowned Hometown High Q champs
Watch the episode online: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Comprised of seniors Jasmine Dietiker, Patrick Nowak and Chase Neponuceno, the team defeated students from Homer-Center Junior/Senior High School and Mars Area High School. The Upper St. Clair students were coached by recently retired gifted coordinator Pat Palazzolo.
This marks the first time that Upper St. Clair has won the competition since it began in the 1999-20 school year. The 2021-22 season of Hometown High Q began in the fall with teams from 81 high schools throughout the region.
“As winners, the students earned $4,000 for the school,” Mrs. Palazzolo said. “The most exciting part, though, is that this is the first time our high school has ever won. We have come in second and third, and made the semifinals (top 9) two or three times, but this is our first No. 1 finish, in my final year teaching!”
Hometown High Q is a 30-minute academic quiz show where each week three school teams vie against one another. Hosted by KDKA-TV meteorologist Ray Petelin, students must correctly answer questions from a variety of general high school curriculum subject areas. The top scoring schools in the competition advance to the playoffs.
High Q, which premiered during the 1999-2000 school year, was inspired by similar programs in other cities, including the long-running “It’s Academic” in Washington, D.C.
