MEET THE PROS!
The moderators of the National Academic Championship are unsurpassed in their ability to read the questions with intelligence, congeniality, and enthusiasm; and to judge the answers with accuracy and fairness.
Chip Beall, Executive Director, founded the National Academic Association in 1982, with the sole purpose of assembling the finest academic teams in America for a championship playoff. He is also President of Questions Unlimited. He has served as host and writer of many quiz programs, including Whiz Quiz (1977-85), a production of WFAA-TV (ABC) in Dallas; Know Your Bible, on radio in Dallas from 1981-85; Bill Clinton's Arkansas Quiz Bowl, aka Governor's Academic Competition (1984-85); the Texaco Star Academic Challenge TV quiz programs in Port Arthur, Houston, and Midland, TX, Tulsa, OK, and White Plains, NY (1986-95); the Texas Academic Championship (1993).
This is what Beall does in the Winter.
Mike Mastandrea was one of the three "charter" officials of the National Academic Championship during that first year, 1983. Mike served as judge of the Dallas/Fort Worth Whiz Quiz program, 1980-85, during which time he came up with the basic idea for the Sixty Seconds Round, now widely used by many quiz bowl tournaments across the country. Mike serves as executive director of Marching Auxiliaries of America, which he founded in 1978.
Brick Barrientos was one of the three original "charter" officials of the National Academic Championship during that first year, 1983. Brick was captain of the University of Maryland's College Bowl team, leading them to a national title in 1981. He's the host, creator, and writer for Silver Screen Test, a production of Montgomery Community Television in Rockville, Maryland. His day job: Brick is one of the financial and legal watchdogs over the mutual fund industry for the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Ernie Anderson Creator and Host of the High-Q TV program (Huntington, West Virginia).
Jason Russell ...Chief Editor, Questions Unlimited; Show Run Manager, Sight and Sound Theatre in Branson, Missouri.
David Madden , Ridgewood, NJ, is the Creator, Writer, and Tournament Director for the History Bowl.
Chris Hunter , host of the South Louisiana Quiz Bowl, a production of KWBJ-TV in Morgan City.
Brooks Sanders , Castle Creek, NY, Writer and Host of the TC-3 High School Challenge seen on Binghamton Public Television.