As an Ilwaco High School alum, I like to hear my parents tell me, for better or for worse, what is still happening at the big mustard-yellow building. When I heard about IHS placing second in the 1A State Knowledge Bowl competition a couple of weeks ago, it came as a shock; not because the students here are incapable of succeeding in a competitive academic environment, but because the IHS Knowledge Bowl program was still in existence at all. People who constantly threaten the community with school cutbacks because of budget disputes are quick to put academic programs such as this one under the chopping block. It is important to recognize the importance of these programs, for although I played baseball, football, golf, and participated in band as well, the Knowledge Bowl competitions are what I remember most clearly, and wish that I could still be a part of. As it turns out, not much has changed since I was a part of the program: the competition is still held in Camas, Tacoma’s Charles Wright Academy is still the juggernaut of the competition, and any news concerning the competitions, if printed at all, is still regulated to an extremely small paragraph of the Chinook Observer.

Congratulations to Team Anglerfish and the rest of the IHS Knowledge Bowl team, may you remember your experience as fondly as I remember mine.

DAVID UNRUH JR.

Portland