GREENFIELD — Greenfield High School students took first place in the Monterey County regional Academic World Quest competition, earning a trip to the national contest in Washington, D.C.
The competition took place Feb. 14 at the Monterey County Office of Education in Salinas. Six teams from across the county tested their knowledge of international affairs and U.S. foreign policy, answering questions across 10 global topics, including “Pop Culture and Soft Power in International Relations” and “Tariffs and Trade.”
Greenfield High’s team of Heriberto “Eddie” Hernandez, Marvin Johnson and Fabian Serrano, coached by Evangelina Mateo, will represent Monterey County at the national competition in April. Travel expenses are being covered by funds raised by the World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay Area (WACMB).
Coach Mateo said she tells her students, “Always be humble and always focus on your progress and hard work and not what others are doing.” Team leader Hernandez added, “We’re proud that we got to represent Greenfield. Coming in as a team of three, we are thrilled to have been able to win the competition.”
Monterey County Office of Education Deputy Superintendent Ralph Porras praised the students’ achievement.
“We are so very proud of our World Academic Quest participants for their dedication to global learning and the incredible effort they demonstrated in the regional competition,” Porras said. “This experience will not only broaden their understanding of the world around them, but also encourage and empower them to become tomorrow’s compassionate leaders, creative problem solvers and positive change makers.”
The World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that promotes public education and raises awareness of international issues. For the fourth year in a row, WACMB has partnered with the Monterey County Office of Education to host the regional Academic World Quest competition.
