WorldQuest2019 is in the books and Steelcase's "Steeling Gold" team powered to victory, ending a streak of WorldQuest wins from the local colleges and universities. Steelcase’s world-aware team members racked up 43 points, meaning they missed just seven of the 50 questions posed across five global categories.
The annual event is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan (WACWM), a non-profit that sponsors 40 programs a year related to global issues, diplomacy and foreign policy.
The academics did not give up without a fight, however, as the Global Knights of Calvin College landed in second with 41 points and a team from the Padnos International Center at Grand Valley State University took third with 40 correct answers.
Rounding out the top five this year were a team of World Affairs Council individual members (the WAC-Es) with 39, and a tie for fifth between Amway and Ferris State University at 38.
In all, 23 teams participated at the 2019 edition of WorldQuest, held at the Eberhard Center at Grand Valley State University’s downtown campus. Teams consisted of six persons, who deliberated on each of 50 questions under five separate categories and recorded the team’s vote via remote control devices.
The event was emceed by Martha Gabrielse, a JP Morgan Chase executive and Michael Van Denend, WACWM’s executive director.
An additional award was announced for “Best Team Name,” which went to Warner Norcross + Judd for the second year in a row, this time for “Truth Vader Winsburg.”
“It is fun for us to end a very busy and successful program year with this light-hearted and entertaining event,” said Erica Kubik, WACWM’s director of programming. “With all of the challenges and difficult issues we face globally, everyone enjoys this time of friendly world-knowledge competition, refreshments and networking among other world-interested companies and schools.”
WorldQuest marks the official end of World Trade Week, sponsored by the Van Andel Global Trade Center at Grand Valley State University and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S. Commercial Service.
Those interested in fielding a team for WorldQuest 2020, to be held in May of that year, may contact WACWM at [email protected] to get information on registration.
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