Caltex, now part of the Global Chevron Corporation, and the Western Cape branch of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), hosted their 16th Annual Interschool Quiz on Wednesday, May 21, 2008. Thirty five high school teams from the Capetown area and environs came together at the Groote Schuur High School Nassau Auditorium in Newlands to compete and answer 20 questions which were based on articles in the Cape Times newspaper and SAIIA's most recent issue of the Foreign Policy Monitor. Learners read articles of an international nature for three weeks prior to the quiz. Fish Hoek Senior High School won the first prize with 40 points (out of 48 points total) and received R4000 and the Caltex Floating Trophy. In second place was Paarl's La Rochelle Girls High School (winner of the 1st prize in 2007) which took a prize of R2000. In third place was St. Cyprians' High School which received its prize of R1000.
Quiz Master, John Maytham, a popular Cape Radio talk host, again facilitated the quiz and was well received by learners and the audience. The Master of Ceremony, Mr. Jonathan Stead, SAIIA/Johannesburg's Director of Marketing and Operations, flew to Capetown in order to lead the Quiz proceedings, and make a short presentation about SAIIA's objectives and educational supports. The Western Cape Department of Education's Director of Communications, Mr. Paddy Attwell, agreed to be The Patron of the Quiz, and SAIIA/Chevron look forward to engaging DoE in future international affairs educational ventures. Quiz 2009 hopes to reach more schools and to prepare teachers in teaching about international affairs through workshops.
Jonathan Stead, MC
In order to celebrate the imminent launch of the Quiz 2008, Chevron and SAIIA, together with the Cape Times, paid a visit with learners from Bonteheuwel High School and their teacher, Ms Nicky Barends, before the Quiz to see how their preparations were going. "Being part of this quiz is very important for my students because it opens many horizons for them", explained Ms Barends. "Many of them have very little academic inspiration outside of what they do here, and this Quiz, in my view, will help them see how far there still is for them to spread their wings", she said.
The winning team - Fish Hoek High School - is pictured with the Chevron Public Affairs Manager, Ms. Miranda Anthony and Jonathan Stead of SAIIA
Dr. Carol Martin, SAIIA's Director of the Quiz, added "SAIIA started this annual Quiz 16 years ago, but it's really thanks to Chevron for having stayed with us for the past ten years as the main sponsor that we managed to grow the Quiz to where it is today. As Ms. Barends nicely put it, "It has been exciting, being part of this national program of growing skills, and opening up horizons for future leaders of this country".
The wining team with the Quiz Patron, Mr. Paddy Attwell of the Department of Education and Chevron Public Affairs Manager, Ms. Miranda Anthony
"For us at Chevron", concluded Miranda Anthony, Chevron's Public Affairs Manager, "our continued sponsorship of this Annual Quiz is something that is squarely located at the very heart of our corporate culture. We are a Global Corporation with operational presence in almost all continents. Our employees also get moved around the world quite alot. Growing awareness about things beyond the borders of South Africa therefore makes a lot of sense for us because it helps grow the seeds of tolerance from across all types of human boundaries".
