College Bowl Rules and Teams

Will the winner be one of the legacy teams, Gallaudet University, National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology, California State University at Northridge, or one of the new teams joining the competition this year?

A Biennial NAD Conference tradition since 1988, the College Bowl brings together young, quick thinking students for a spirited evening of academic competition. The goals of the NAD College Bowl are to promote esprit de corps among competing colleges and within each team and to enhance the visibility of colleges serving students who are deaf and hard of hearing.

The competition begins with the first-ever expanded preliminary round, which determines which colleges/universities will compete in the College Bowl Finals! The teams will vie for the coveted silver trophy and scholarships, as the audience tries to guess the answers along with the contestants. Come cheer your favorite team as their brains are put to the test - and find out if they are triumphantly correct or horribly wrong. Either way, enjoy the competition and test your knowledge!

Rules For Preliminaries:

There will be two preliminary matches on Wednesday, July 4th. The first match takes place at 10:00 a.m. with three teams in each room answering the same set of questions. After the first match is completed, the teams will be re-seeded and play the second match at 2:00 p.m. Each team’s point total from the two matches will be combined, and the three teams with the highest combined scores will advance to the Finals.

Rules For Finals:
Teams consist of four contestants, who rotate as participants during the three rounds of the competition. Each round of questioning has three players on a team, and each of the four contestants play at least one round. Questions will be presented and the team will type their answers. There will be 20 seconds for the team to answer the
questions. Rounds 1, 2, and 3 consist of 18 questions each in the following categories: art and literature, history, geography, science/technology and nature, sports and leisure, deaf heritage and culture, entertainment, mathematics, and current events.

Scoring:
1st round: Each correct answer equals 1 point.
2nd round: Each correct answer equals 3 points.
3rd round: Each correct answer equals 5 points.
Wrong answers are not penalized.

Bonus:
Any team may announce their intention to challenge the opposing teams after a category has been shown, but prior to the display of the question. If the answer is correct, the points will be doubled. If the answer is incorrect, the team will lost the doubled point value. 

A longtime NAD member, the College Bowl Emcee Alana W. Beal, comes from a multi-generational Deaf family and grew up in New York City. She owns Creative Communications, a firm that performs professional and life coaching and provides expert consultation on business efficiencies and growth strategies. Alana is the current president of Deaf Women United, a 25-year-old national membership organization, and is a regular blogger on workplace communications and business practices at deafnation.com. She is also a frequent keynote speaker at conferences and networking events. Alana is an alumna of Lexington School for the Deaf, Gallaudet University and University of Phoenix. She lives in Charlotte, NC, with husband Donnie Dove. This will be her first time emceeing the NAD College Bowl competition.

Robert Sidansky - Coach

Danielle Berman - Assistant Coach

Brandon Marin Age: 21, 3rd year student Major: Psychology Goals: Receive a Psy. D and MD Activities: Wakeboarding, reading, soccer, Kappa Sigma Fraternity, New Student Orientation mentor, Deaf CSUNians, Unified We Serve What do you hope to gain from this experience? To satisfy my thirst for learning, develop a strong bond with my teammates/friends, meet and network with people from all over the nation, and represent California with pride!

Emily Schwartz Age: 21, 4th year student Major: Deaf Studies/Creative Writing Goals: To be happy with my life Activities: Reading, writing, eating, roller derby, and being with friends What do you hope to gain from this experience? Have a great time with great people.

Josh Tozeski Age: 24, 4th year student Major: History Goals: Travel around world, work Activities: Participate in recreational activities, sports, hanging out with friends, videogames What do you hope to gain from this experience? Knowledge, gain experience and be a true leader.

Moises Jaramillo Age: 20, 3rd year student Major: Kinesiology Goals: To get accepted into physical therapy and get a Doctorate Activities: Basketball, music, StumbleUpon, Socializing, Kinesiology Member Club, Sign ‘N Run, Leadership Conference, Intramurals What do you hope to gain from this experience? FUN!

Robert B. Weinstock - Coach

Pia Marie Paulone - Assistant Coach

Todd Bonheyo Age: 19, 1st year student Major: Undecided Goals: Find the world’s unknown places Activities: Men’s basketball, Kappa Gamma Fraternity What do you hope to gain from this experience? The competition itself, and the opportunity to interact with the finest people from all competing schools.

Gabriel Paulone Age: 21, 3rd year student Major: Art History and History Goals: Travel around the world; own a brewery Activities: Collecting graphic novels, traveling, drawing, Director of Public Relations, Student Body Government; Football (three seasons); Kappa Gamma Fraternity What do you hope to gain from this experience? Friendship; expanding network.

Allison Weiner Age: 20, 4th year student Major: Accounting Future Goals: Entrepreneurship Activities: Business, technology, Reddit, reading, general geekry, Phi Kappa Zeta sorority, Student Body Government What do you hope to gain from this experience? Meet other intelligent deaf college students.

Christopher Kurz - Coach

Gary Behm - Assistant Coach

Ethan Berger Age: 19, 2nd year student Major: Advertising and Public Relations Goals: In my opinion, it is too early to tell what my realistic future goals are, but I know that I want to work with people in some form. Activities: I enjoy any sport, especially baseball, football, ultimate frisbee and snowboarding. Other than sports, I love to play video games and just hanging out with friends.

Jordan Burgener Age: 22, 3rd year student Major: Journalism Goals: To write either full-time or part-time, working on short stories, essays, and novels.  I want to have an impact on the world, small or large. Activities: Writing random things, listening to music and watching movies. What do you hope to gain from this experience? I hope to have fun and learn whatever I can about myself and others.

Gianni Manganelli Age: 21, 3rd year student Major: Imaging Science Goals: Astronomer, Subaru BRZ Enthusiast; Fine Art Photographer; Bassist Activities: Kung Fu, playing bass, League of Legends online; film buff; people watching

Taylor Yukawa Age: 20, 4th year student Major: Finance Future Goals: Travel the world, discover my roots in Japan, visit every MLB ballpark in America, and to find a great job after college Activities: Movies, playing sports, snowboarding, making films, and having lively debates with friends What do you hope to gain from this experience? I hope to see what goes on during the NAD Conference, meeting new people and having the opportunity to bond with other colleges through this friendly competition.

Amanda Glasgow - Coach

Hannah Kirchhofer - Assistant Coach

Musab Omar Al-Smadi Age: 21, 2nd year student Major: Computer Information Systems Goals: Obtain a Ph.D. in Software Engineering Activities: Traveling, reading, soccer, volleyball, and tennis What do you hope to gain from this experience? Experience the challenges.

Marcela Baca Age: 21, 2nd year student Major: Computer Information Systems Goals: Get a Bachelor’s degree Activities: Arts, crafts, cooking, volleyball and basketball What do you hope to gain from this experience? I hope to gain new friends, experiences, and opportunities.

Jesus Barrera Age: 20, 1st year student Major: Computer Information Systems Goals: Get a Bachelor’s degree in Business Activities: Video games, computers, hanging out with friends, and work out. I also love challenges and I am not afraid of challenges. What do you hope to gain from this experience? Represent SWCID, experience new things, and have fun.

Allen Nearhoof Age: 21, 3rd year student Major: General Studies Goals: Be rich Activities: Outdoor activities, fishing, and basketball What do you hope to gain from this experience? I am very honored for a great experience at the NAD Conference.

Chris Warmack Age: 20, 1st year student Major: General Studies Goals: Receive my bachelor’s degree and seek employment Activities: Magic card ricks, work out, wrestling, soccer, and socialize with people What do you hope to gain from this experience? Take the challenge and benefit from it.

Sonny Wasilowski - Co-Coach

Kaitlyn Mielke - Co-Coach

Justin Barlow Age: 24, 4th year student Major: Mechanical Engineering Goals: Improve/discover renewable energy Activities: Sports, video games, basketball, and softball What do you hope to gain from this experience? Purely experience.

T’jay Middlebrook Age: 25, 3rd year student Major: Global Studies Goals: Travel, Work in the United Nations Activities: Soccer What do you hope to gain from this experience? Connections.

Shawn Vriezen Age: 33, 3rd year student Major: Information Technology, Infrastructure/Computer Science Future Goals: To be awesome Activities: Rock Climbing, photography, camping, video games, University of Minnesota ASL Club, DHH Student Ambassador Program, TEH PWN Gaining Club, and Association for Computing Machinery What do you hope to gain from this experience? See some familiar faces and enjoy some friendly competition.

John Wilson Age: 20, 2nd year student Major: Sociology Goals: work with advocacy law Activities: Reading, biking, and student ambassador program What do you hope to gain from this experience? Great time meeting new people!

Lauren Kinast - Co-Coach

Rachel Mazique - Co-Coach

Duggan Baker Age: 20, 3rd year student Major: Geology and Plan II Goals: I want to become an oil and gas lawyer and hopefully pursue my interests as a writer, eventually. Activities: I enjoy running, swimming, biking, and various outdoor activities such as camping, hunting, and fishing. What do you hope to gain from this experience? I would like to meet and become friends with many people and absorb as much about Deaf culture as I can.

Lisa H. Guerra Age: 20, 2nd year student Major: History and minor in Communication Goals: Write a book and learn a second language Activities: Photography, reading, soccer, and Students with Disabilities Agency Director with student government What do you hope to gain from this experience? I would like to put the University of Texas at Austin on the map for any potential Deaf students to consider attending after school.

Christy Hediger Age: 19, 1st year student Major: Exercise Science Goals: To become a physician’s assistant Activities: Golf, watching movies, hanging out with friends, Intramural sports, and College Bowl What do you hope to gain from this experience? Gain new friends from different colleges/universities and more good memories.

Kalie Kubes Age: 20, 2nd year student Major: Human Development and Family Sciences- Child Development Goals: NEED ANSWER Activities: Performing, art, music, volunteering. I volunteer for a variety of things – I am a strong activist! What do you hope to gain from this experience? A greater sense of confidence in my knowledge.

Jordan Nussbaum Age: 21, 3rd year student Major: Government Goals: 3.0 or above GPA by graduation, complete internship prior to graduation Activities: Football, board games, hunting, cooking, pottery, traveling What do you hope to gain from this experience? To be move involved with the Deaf community.