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| Dr. Tom Traves with winners Craig Dewar, Matthew Stephen and Pierre Riley from Dr. J.H. Gillis Regional High School (Abriel photo). |
"I am a scholar, and proud of it. I am committed to knowledge. I came here to win, but I will leave proud, no matter what."
With hands over their hearts, students from across the region chuckled self-conciously as they repeated these words, clearly enjoying themselves during the kick-off of the third annual Reach for Dalhousie competition. Phil O'Hara, event organizer and Assistant Director (Teaching) with Dalhousie's Academic Computing Services, began the day-long event as he has for the past few years - with a pledge of scholarly integrity.
Owing its origins to the CBC's old Reach for the Top show, the Dal version has developed in new directions with new teaching technology. It has become a popular annual event for high school students from across the Maritimes, as students get to experience the Dalhousie campus while testing their knowledge and skills for very valuable prizes.
High stakes
Dr. J. H. Gillis Regional High School in Antigonish emerged as the winning team after the day-long competition. The three students on the team Ð Craig Dewar, Matthew Stephen and Pierre Riley Ð each won a full scholarship to Dalhousie. Second place finishers were Ben Matthews, Alex Somerville and Alex Thornton of Dartmouth High School.
More than 40 high schools from across Atlantic Canada sent teams this year. As in previous years, the teams hailed from across the region, including:
Armbrae Academy, Nova Scotia
Auburn Drive High School, Nova Scotia
Baddeck Academy, Nova Scotia
Barrington Municipal High School, Nova Scotia
Bathurst High School, New Brunswick
Carleton North Senior High School, New Brunswick
Charlottetown Rural High School, Prince Edward Island
Cobequid Education Centre, Nova Scotia
Cole Harbour District High School, Nova Scotia
Corner Brook High School, Newfoundland
Dalbrae Academy, Nova Scotia
Dr J H Gillis Regional High, Nova Scotia
Forest Heights, Nova Scotia
Fredericton High School, New Brunswick
Glace Bay High School, Nova Scotia
Halifax Grammar School, Nova Scotia
Hants East Rural High School, Nova Scotia
Hants North Rural High School, Nova Scotia
Holy Angels High School, Nova Scotia
Kennebecasis Valley High School, New Brunswick
Miramichi Valley High School, New Brunswick
Moncton High School, New Brunswick
Nackawic Senior High School, New Brunswick
North Nova Education Centre, Nova Scotia