With the exciting news of going to Nationals in Atlanta over Memorial Day weekend, junior Zoey Zachek said she was proud of her team’s accomplishments despite having recently joined Quiz Bowl.

“I only joined this year so I’m not as connected or seasoned, but I am very proud of the team. Some of our team thought we weren’t gonna make it but we pulled through,” Zachek Said.

Quiz Bowl adviser Peter Dangerfield said fundraising can be a key part to driving down individual costs for students on trips like these.

“A good way to make the trip more affordable is to try and fundraise (as) much as possible, but there is a limit to how much you can fundraise,” Dangerfield said.

Zachek said with more collective fundraising, she would have had the opportunity to go to nationals.

“We are doing a lot of fundraisers, and I personally think that is the best way to get more people to go. It only goes so far, but if we pushed (the fundraisers) harder I think it would (be) more possible for me and others to go,” Zachek said.

According to junior Max Holden, although the original price is high, it will almost certainly become cheaper as Quiz Bowl does more fundraising.

“Personally the price isn’t stopping me, but I can’t speak for anyone else. Currently, the price is $400, but I definitely think it will go down with fundraising,” Holden said.

Dangerfield said by contacting local businesses the collective cost of the trip to Atlanta could go down with a grant or donation.

“The best way to bring cost down for everybody is to go out and hit up local business, sponsorships or organizations that might donate money,” Dangerfield said.

Zachek said one thing she was looking forward to, besides competing, was a waffle house in downtown Atlanta.

“There is a really great waffle house downtown that people keep talking about so that would have been a nice addition to competing of course,” Zachek said.

Dangerfield said Quiz Bowl has not received any grants or scholarships like they have in past years.

“I dont know of any scholarships or grants to pay for a student to go to Quiz Bowl Nationals,” Dangerfield said. “In the past we have gotten money from organizations dedicated to helping the team defray costs, but I dont know of any particular help this year.”

Holden said fundraising will be a key part to making the trip more accessible to everyone and having the school help could be an additional or alternative to cheaper trip cost.

“I think fundraising can always be a good thing to make it more affordable but otherwise having the school pay for part of the trip, or even all of it, would open up possibilities to more people,” Holden said.