Local Middle Schoolers Celebrate Black History During Knowledge Bowl

March 17, 2025 hpbronso 4-min. read

A group of students hold up a trophy and envelopes with prize money in them. — Teams from the Wake County Public School System and Durham Public Schools answered all their questions correctly during the final round of the knowledge bowl, splitting the trophy and prize money.

This American social reformer, abolitionist, writer and statesman was the most important leader of the movement for African American civil rights in the 19th century and the inspiration for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.’s annual Black History Knowledge Bowl for youth in the Triangle.

Who was Frederick Douglass?

On Feb. 26, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. hosted their annual Frederick Douglass Black History Knowledge Bowl on NC State’s Centennial Campus at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation. This event was hosted in partnership with faculty in NC State’s College of Education, the Friday Institute’s North Carolina Math/Science Education Network Pre-College Program (MSEN) and the Wake County Public School System’s Helping Hands Program. One hundred and fifteen students from Durham Public Schools and the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) participated in the ultimate field trip, competing in a Jeopardy-style knowledge bowl competition and video challenge that celebrated Black History Month.

“For me, as an educator, to see these young people engaged in the education process, and the enthusiasm and the joy for which they were engaged, is a testimony to what education is all about,” said Everett B. Ward ‘03MA, former general president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. “It’s when that light bulb goes off, and to witness and both hear the keen awareness of African American history says it’s going from one generation to the next.”

A group of men from the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. pose together in front of a sign for the event featuring students. — Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. attended the knowledge bowl to show their support of the event. Scholarship, leadership and service are the three pillars of their organization.

The Black History Knowledge Bowl was a completely student-led event, from emceeing and running the competition to taking photographs. Students representing International Baccalaureate (IB) ambassador programs, media clubs, mentorship programs, MSEN and various community organizations served as event staff volunteers.

College of Education Associate Professor DeLeon Gray, also a University Faculty Scholar at NC State and a member of the Phi Lambda Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., led the event as part of his iScholar program, a K-12 school-university partnership initiative that gives students the opportunity to collaborate on research-based projects related to sense of belonging while supporting their motivation, learning and scholastic achievement.

“Having an opportunity to support and participate in a youth-led quiz bowl event was an experience to remember,” said Gray. “This event was truly a team success. Informal learning opportunities such as this one showcase excellence and historical achievements, thereby offering participants an affirming context in which to discover the significance of scientific contributions of STEM innovators (among other notable historical figures). When such contributions are showcased in a way that emphasizes collective pride and impact, I strongly believe that students will be more likely to see STEM as compatible with their social identities—a concept referred to as identity-based motivation or attainment value in my research.”

Participants were surveyed after the event and described it as “an awesome, safe and protected space” where students of all backgrounds could engage with history while being celebrated for their knowledge and abilities. Students felt an enhanced sense of STEM identity and engagement through belonging and STEM-related opportunities as well as a sense of activated youth leadership.

Students sit behind a table with a Wake County Public Schools tablecloth answering questions in front of a jeopardy screen of questions. — Students from the Wake County Public School System and Durham County Public Schools competed in a preliminary round at the event in order to represent their district in the finals.

Many participants added they felt that the event strengthened community connections and grew students’ confidence and joy in Black history knowledge.

“I hope that the impact it’ll have on students is that they will want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, to want to identify with others, be part of the larger community, the larger culture, to connect, to represent in different spaces,” said Alice Mba, a media specialist at Neal Middle School. “Those spaces can be anywhere. Those spaces could be in medicine. Those spaces could be in education. Those spaces could be in entrepreneurship. Those spaces can just be volunteering in the community.”

Others said that this knowledge and confidence extends beyond just answering questions about history. “We had to study Black history, and that’s kinda boosting me to not only look at it as questions and answers but understanding what Black history is and the impact Black history had on top of that,” said Serenity Thornton, a seventh grader from Neuse River Middle School who participated in the final round of the knowledge bowl.

WCPSS Superintendent Robert Taylor reiterated Thornton’s statements during his welcome address at the start of the day.

“You’re not just answering questions,” said Taylor. “You’re carrying the torch of knowledge, keeping history alive and inspiring all of us in this room and beyond.”