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2006 Partners in Education Press Release UPPER DARBY -- Similar to winning an athletic contest, academic achievement and educational excellence were celebrated at Wednesday’s Partners in Education dinner at the Drexelbrook Corporate Events Center. For the second consecutive year, the event was presented by the Foundation of the Delaware County Chamber and the Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU). Its sponsor was Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union (FMFCU), one of two primary corporate sponsors of the 2005-2006 Delco Hi-Q season. President/CEO John D. Unangst, a member of the Chamber Foundation Board, was event chairman. High school students who took part in this year’s Hi-Q competition -- all 210 of them -- were honored and awards were presented to the season’s three top-scoring teams. Daily Times Editor Phil Heron presented a plaque to each of the 21 all-stars, calling them "very, very special young people." Heron also lauded the parents of each of the 120 Hi-Q team members. Tom McCarthy of Wynnewood, Delco Hi-Q quizmaster since 1979, and prominent Media attorney Murray Eckell, a member of Chester High’s Hi-Q team during the 1951-1952 season, were inducted into the prestigious Delco Hi-Q Hall of Honor. Introducing them, Christopher McGinley, executive director of the DCIU, noted the Hall of Honor soon will be a physical place at the I.U. building in Morton. Chosen on the basis of their significant contributions to the Hi-Q program, McCarthy and Eckell join the late Donna Zerby, who was the first Hall of Honor inductee in May 2005. The 2005-2006 Delco Hi-Q season was dedicated in her memory and a video that paid loving tribute to her was part of the evening’s program. As director of Delco Hi-Q, Zerby was closely involved with the academic quiz program for more than 43 years until her death in August 2005. Awards were presented to the top three teams in this year’s championship match. For its third-place finish, Delaware County Christian School received $500 for its school. Garnet Valley’s team was given a second-place award of $750 and the Marple Newtown championship team won $1,000 and the right to display the new Donna Zerby Trophy at its school for a year. Guest speaker was Temple University Professor Dr. John Allen Paulos, an author, monthly columnist, humorist and mathematician. He used newspaper headlines to illustrate how numbers and statistical probability impact various aspects of everyday life. He said that the who, what, when and where, newspaper stories should ask such questions as how many? and how likely? Virginia "Ginger" Beaumont was thanked for directing the 2005-2006 Delco Hi-Q season. An announcement was made that she and Rick Durante, FMFCU assistant vice president/director of education, will co-direct the 2006-2007 season. In addition to its main sponsor, FMFCU (Summa Cum Laude), major sponsors of the event were the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, the Delaware County Daily Times and Endo Pharmaceuticals (Magna Cum Laude). Other sponsors were Comcast, Crozer-Keystone Health System, Riddle Health System, St. Joseph University, Temple University and QVC. |
