On Tuesday, Oct. 23, Renaldo Arroyo, Michelle Dudley, Bonny Hammons, and Evan Robinson battled their way to the semifinals of the Society of American Foresters Quiz Bowl, finally falling to bowl champs, Penn State University. In the end, the team wound up tops among schools in the western United States and third in a field that included 27 schools.
This year's representatives -- from a department that routinely does well in this competition, having won the national championship twice since 2001 -- kept their reputation strong, proving a distinct acumen for their field. The forestry team's sucesss comes one month after the Humboldt State Wildlife Conclave team captured the No. 1 spot in a national quiz competition in Tuscon, Ariz.
The Quiz Bowl operated in a Jeopardy-style competition, with organizers providing answers and the students left to come up with the correct question. Topics covered areas as diverse as dendrology -- the scientific study of trees, measurement systems used in forestry and forest fires.
Dr. Christopher Edgar, faculty advisor for the HSU student chapter of the Society of American Foresters, lauded the students for their commitment to the subject and the extra effort that went into preparing for the bowl.
"They've been practicing since the first week of school, meeting Sunday evenings and during the week. Primarily, it was students who drove the process," Edgar said.
The Quiz Bowl was part of the Society of American Forests national convention, which was held this year at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. In addition to the Quiz Bowl, the week-long series of events featured a keynote address, job fairs and several sessions covering technical and scientific aspects of forestry.