Cherokee School wins national history competition

African-American History Challenge Bowl, by A. David Dahmer

(L-r) Jeff Horney, Cherokee learning coordinator and AAHC Coach, Carrie Zellmer,Marshawn Hall, Maria Lee, and Enis Ragland, founding president of 100 Black Men of Madison, the team's sponsor at nationals.

The African American History Challenge Bowl National Championship trophy now resides in Madison.
 A team of eighth graders from Cherokee Middle School traveled to Orlando, Fla., June 12-13 and beat out 13 other teams in the junior division of the competition, bringing Madison its second-ever national championship.
The Cherokee team —eighth graders Marshaun Hall, Carrie Zellmer, and alternate Maria Lee — advanced through three oral quiz rounds before winning the final against a team from Charlotte, N.C.
The team, which qualified for the national event by winning the Madison championship in March, was nervous going in, but always confident. The team was led by coach Jeff Horney, Cherokee Middle School’s learning coordinator.
"We'd heard stories, and we were a little intimidated and a little nervous going in," Marshaun said. "We weren't expecting to win the whole thing. But when we did — when we actually won the whole thing —we just kind of sat there, stunned."
The competition, sponsored by 100 Black Men of America, featured questions about African American history drawn from two 800-page books.
"The questions were tough," Marshaun said, "but we had studied a great deal."
Marshaun estimated that the Cherokee team, which had already dedicated the entire school year to sudying African American history, studied for about 17 more hours while they were down in Orlando.
But it wasn't all business. The youngsters got to hang out, shop, and walk around and see the beautiful city of Orlando. On the day of the final competition — which didn’t start until 7 p.m. — the students got to go to the famous Epcot Center at the Walt Disney World Resort..
"It was an unbelievable experience," Marshaun said. "It's something that I will remember until I can't remember things anymore.
"We won it all," he added. "I still can't believe it. That's so crazy!"