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Almost 200 teens from across U.S. hit
Milligan College for tournament
Chelsea Farnam
Johnson City Press
MILLIGAN COLLEGE — About 200 teens and adults journeyed from 10 states, including Colorado, Texas and Florida, to participate in the 26th annual Bible Bowl tournament this week at Milligan College. Youth groups and homeschool groups from 22 churches nationwide formed teams to compete in quiz tournaments that require rare knowledge of the Bible as well as scripture memorization.
“The goal is to get the kids studying the Bible, but to give them an outside motivation to do that,” said Ashley Rolston, a program coordinator and 2006 Milligan graduate. “Having the competitive atmosphere really encourages them.”
The tournament has become a tradition in many families, as parents travel with their children as scorekeepers or time recorders. Rolston grew up participating in Bible Bowl and has been involved for nearly 15 years.
Talor Park, 15, of Franklin Christian Church in Franklin, is in her fifth year of competition.
“Me and my brother have been doing (Bible Bowl) together for a long time, and my parents are really supportive,” she said. “I’ve been in it and around it since my elementary years.”
Milligan College is just one of several participating Christian colleges of the non-denominational Christian church/ Church of Christ background. Bible Bowl tournaments will also take place this summer at Kentucky Christian University, Johnson Bible College and Cincinnati Christian University, culminating in the national tournament in Indianapolis.
The competition, however, yields more than just a fun summer trip; scholarships from participating colleges are available to top performers.
Milligan College, for example, offers a $3,000 scholarship to members of the first-place team at the Milligan tournament in addition to subsequent scholarships for second- and third-place team members and individual performers. They also offer $8,000 to members of the winning team at the national tournament in addition to subsequent scholarships for second through fourth place.
The tournament began Sunday and ends tonight after an awards ceremony. In between quiz tournaments, students participate in devotions, pingpong, card games, basketball, picnics and trips such as going to Fun Expedition.
Johnson City Press Article