The Computer Fusion Club, an Andover-based branch of the World Computer Exchange, is currently seeking donations of any devices, including speakers, webcams, laptops, and desktops.
The World Computer Exchange is a non-profit organization that refurbishes and sends locally donated computers to schools in need around the globe, mostly in Africa and Central and South America.
“Unusable computers are taken apart,” said Sharayu Josh, the club leader. “Those that can be sent are repaired and refurbished.” The club is also exploring the possibility of selling metal scraps to raise funds for a cart to carry the computers. If you are interested in donating or volunteering, please contact Sharayu Josh (sjosh2025@student.andoverma.us) or Dr. Bezaire (marianne.bezaire@andoverma.us) or visit the website https://worldcomputerexchange.org/
Andover High School’s Quiz Team lost against Mansfield in the High School Quiz Show quarterfinals on April 8.
According to Alan Hibino, Quiz Team adviser, the High School Quiz Show, hosted by television personality Billy Costa and broadcast by GBH, is a trivia competition open to all high school students in Massachusetts. The tournament bracket consists of 16 teams of 4, which compete in hopes of winning the state championship. Participants are tested on their knowledge of various subjects, including history, literature, math, science, and geography.
COURTESTY PHOTO / Liz Friar/GBH Members of the Andover and Mansfield Quiz Team get ready to compete.
Senior Mahathi Veluri, a member of the Quiz Team, described competing in quarterfinals as “really surreal and exciting.”
“I couldn’t believe that it was happening,” she said.
Aniketh Sherigar, a sophomore, felt prepared for the event. “I was a little less nervous than in previous rounds, since this was the second time that we would be in the studio,” he stated.
Sherigar’s most memorable experience occurred just before the match. “Our coach, Mr. Hibino, brought a case of Coca-Cola, and he told us to drink it so that we would be more reactive while answering questions,” he said. “It was a gesture that was a little out of the ordinary, but it calmed my nerves.”
In preparation for the tournament, the Quiz Team studied information that they anticipated would be asked about frequently.
“We focused a lot on current events, pop culture, and categories where you could study lists, such as the constitutional amendments and US presidents,” stated Hibino.
“I used the National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT) website, which has a lot of useful information,” said Veluri.
Sherigar explained the traits that successful Quiz Team participants have. “A good member of the team would help supplement where someone else falls short,” he said. “For example, one member could excel in history and civics, while another could excel in science and math.”
Another hallmark of an adept player is the ability to remain focused under pressure. “You have to be quick on your feet,” said Veluri.
Hibino encourages more students to join the Quiz Team. “You can be on TV and win the state championship, which AHS was able to do in 2018,” he stated. “I think it’s important to be involved at AHS, and joining the team will allow you to be part of a club that’s a combination of academic, social and competitive pursuits.”
Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), a competitive business and entrepreneurship club at Andover High School, had several members who qualified for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC), but none are attending.
Anusha Sambangi, Ayush Munot, Christina Ahn, Emily Flanagan, Ethan Zabar, and Sunjae Kim are the six AHS students who passed DECA states and qualified for ICDC. This year, the DECA ICDC will take place in Orlando, Florida during April break. However, there are several features—such as the timing and location—which constrain who can attend.
A student can compete in one of several DECA categories, each of which involves a different testing setting. According to Ashley Kinsman, a faculty advisor of the DECA club, students present a business plan or project they have been working on or roleplay in a business setting to judges. The overall structure of the tests and exams remain the same throughout all levels of the competition, including districts, states, and internationals. However, standards vary between the competitions. Judges score individuals or groups based on a rubric; according to their score, a student may advance to the next level.
“I was really excited to do well in states this year and qualifying for nationals again was awesome,” said Flanagan, who is a senior. She competed in the business service marketing category, one of the roleplay events at DECA. Last year, Flanagan competed in ICDC, but she does not plan on repeating the experience and explained she is “not going to the competition this year because [she has] to tour a bunch of colleges during April break.”
STAFF PHOTO / Saarvi Deshwal Christina Ahn, a DECA ICDC nationals qualifier, and Melissa Kinsman, the club advisor for DECA, pose for a photo.
Last year, the trip to DECA ICDC was a school-sponsored event, since many students had qualified for it. However, with fewer members this season, it was up to individuals and their guardians to finance the journey.
Kinsman added, “It is typically not a large enough group that qualifies so it no longer becomes a school and teacher sponsor[ed] event and so they need to find their chaperone. Which is typically in the form of a parent and if the parent can’t commit then the kids are unable to attend nationals.”
The DECA organization “makes you pay for specific hotels, those hotels tend to be more expensive than other ones and they won’t let you attend the conference if you don’t stay at these specific hotels,” said sophomore Ahn, vice president of DECA who also made it to ICDC. She will not be attending due to the steep fees required for the trip.
“[It does] cost a lot of money, it’s pretty expensive for the hotel and competition fees, and this year it’s in Orlando, so flying to Florida during April break is expensive,” said Flanagan. “You also do miss a week of school after April break and I know for me last year that was a lot of work to catch up on. But if you do qualify I do recommend going if it’s possible.”
For many, DECA extends beyond the competitive aspect. “I think it’s really rare to find such an organization that helps students display their passion and knowledge for business in such a great way,” said Ahn, who has developed her love for accounting through this organization and hopes to further expand her passion through college.
“I got involved in it the last two years and I think it’s a great opportunity for students who take the business classes or are interested,” Kinsman added. “The organization itself has a lot of tools to support kids in the business field and give them exposure to it.”
