By Cameron Juarez-Razo
Staff Writer
SOAR High School came away with a third place finish in the preliminary round of the highly competitive Latino Knowledge Bowl on Tuesday, showcasing their academic excellence and teamwork. The event, which brought together students from across the region to test their knowledge of Latin American history, culture, and current events, highlighted the dedication and skill of SOAR’s team as they competed against schools throughout the Antelope Valley. Eastside High School currently holds first place while Quartz Hill High School sits in second. SOAR Palmdale, Antelope Valley High School, Palmdale High School, and R. Rex Parris High School finished in fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh place.
The second round of competition begins today at the AVUHSD Boardroom with the top five finishers between both competitions going to the finals at Eastside High School on Friday. That competition will begin with a pre-bowl fiesta at 5:30 p.m. featuring food trucks, students performances, and district programs.
This year, SOAR High School’s team consists of Ian Juarez-Razo, Alejandro Galindo, Pamela Francisco, Elizabeth Kassim, Anthony Rivera Estrada, and advisor Mrs. Galindo.
Interestingly, every member of SOAR's team has previous experience in knowledge bowls, giving them a slight edge in this high-stakes competition. The format is simple, with one large Kahoot quiz pitting schools against each other, but the pressure to be both accurate and fast is intense. Precision in selecting answers, speed in clicking, and overall knowledge of the subject matter are key factors to success. Since late May, SOAR’s team has been diligently practicing, covering topics such as important historical figures, dates, cuisine, landmarks, and cultural traditions.
The team uses a variety of methods to prepare. Elizabeth Kassim shared the team's approach as a group study session in which members create their own Kahoots and fill-in-the-blank worksheets.
"Personally, I focus on quizzing myself and building challenging questions for both myself and my teammates," she said.
With the competition fast approaching, the team feels confident with Ian Juarez-Razo stating, "I feel really ready. I could use a bit more study time, but I’ve done this before.” The only returning member from last year's team, Pamela Francisco echoed that sentiment, adding, "I think we're going to do well. SOAR has always made it to the finals, so I don't think this year will be any different. I personally feel prepared, as I’ve been putting in the work.”
Students are encouraged to attend and support their school teams. AVUHSD will also be hosting a special event during the preliminaries, with a prize awarded to the school that brings the most student supporters. Good luck, SOAR!
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