HARRISBURG, PA — Moravian Academy emerged victorious at the 34th Pennsylvania State Academic Competition held at the Pennsylvania State Capitol on Friday, May 2. The Northampton County school’s academic team bested 17 other top-performing teams to claim first place, earning a $2,000 scholarship.
Hosted by Representative John A. Lawrence and sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Education Association, this year’s event brought together Pennsylvania’s most outstanding high school students for a day of rigorous intellectual challenges and teamwork. The competition was coordinated by the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU).
Moravian Academy secured the championship with an impressive 95 points in the final match, narrowly edging out Unionville High School of Chester County, which earned 90 points, and Cedar Crest High School of Lebanon County, which placed third with 85 points. Unionville and Cedar Crest were each awarded $500 scholarships for their efforts.
“What stood out the most during this year’s competition was the energy and drive of the students,” said Jay Della Ragione, special events coordinator for CCIU. “It’s inspiring to watch them push themselves and support one another. That sort of teamwork and love of learning is what this competition is all about.”
Moravian’s path to victory wasn’t easy. The team overcame a 30-point deficit midway through the final round by employing what junior Tyler Shankweiler called the “goldfish method,” a strategy focused on forgetting past mistakes and moving to the next question. “You have to forget what you didn’t do and just move on,” Shankweiler shared.
Nathaniel Schmidt, another junior on the team, reflected on the accomplishment. “This is the first time our school has won in over 20 years. It’s a huge accomplishment for all of us,” he said. Schmidt added that the team’s positive attitude, joking, and even dancing during breaks played a key role in staying relaxed under pressure.
The competition aims to foster lifelong learning, teamwork, and confidence among high school students. When asked for advice to future participants, Shankweiler kept it simple. “Play your game. Don’t overthink it. Answer the questions you know, and don’t get stuck on the ones you don’t.”
Moravian Academy’s victory underscores the spirit of the Pennsylvania State Academic Competition, celebrating the blend of intellect, determination, and collaboration that defines success both on and off the stage.
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