Key West High School Academic Challenge Team Needs Your Help

Two years ago six Key West High School students brought home the state title in the Academic Challenge Tournament in Orlando. But, they almost didn’t make the trip. School budget cuts had stripped the team of its funding and the situation was not looking too promising. When the students made a public appeal for help, the community responded and within 24 hours the team was fully funded!

This year the school district is still struggling and the team has no funding for participation in competitive events – even at the County level.   The KWHS Academic Challenge Team needs our help once again.

Here is a note from team captain, Key West High School Senior, Sherman Kaplitz:

Due to a lack of funding, the Key West High School Academic Challenge Team, which has placed within the top three teams in the state of Florida for the past four years, may not be able to compete on the county or state level this year.

Academic Challenge is an academic club in which students answer complex and difficult questions ranging from physics to literature to integral calculus to art history.  KWHS has taken first place at the Monroe County competition for six consecutive years and this year may be our seventh if funding can be found.

This year, budget cuts have eliminated district funding, putting the responsibility to compete squarely on the team’s shoulders.  We are trying to raise $2,500 for this year’s county competiton.

We would appreciate any donation you could make to the team.  Checks can be made out to Key West High School with Academic Challenge in the memo line.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration,

/s

Sherman Kaplitz

Captain, KWHS Academic Challenge Team

Questions may be directed to Elizabeth Ford, KWHS Academic Challenge Faculty Sponsor, (305) 293-1549, ext. 54337. Click here for a printable KWHS Academic Challenge Sponsorship Form