Academic WorldQuest

IAF hosts northern Michigan's only Academic WorldQuest regional competition for high school students. Your support has a direct impact on these promising young leaders.

Academic WorldQuest is a program of the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) and its affiliate member councils, including IAF. WACA’s flagship youth education program is a fun, fast-paced team competition for high school students. Academic WorldQuest tests players’ knowledge of current international politics, geography, global economics, history, and world cultures.

2025 REGIONAL COMPETITION

The International Affairs Forum will host its 12th annual Academic WorldQuest regional competition on February 27, 2025 at the Hagerty Center on Northwestern Michigan College's Great Lakes Campus. With the support of area high school educators, we're organizing IAF's largest competition ever -- and the only AWQ national qualifying contest in the state of Michigan!

IAF sends the winning team to Washington, D.C. for the Carlos and Malú Alvarez Academic WorldQuest National Competition hosted by the World Affairs Councils of America. This trip is a life-changing experience in our nation's capital for four promising students. Academic WorldQuest and the students' trip is made possible by IAF members, individual donors, event sponsors, and dedicated volunteers. Thank you for your gifts of support, your time, and your energy. 

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Interested in sponsoring this event? Click here.

You can make a direct impact on local Academic WorldQuest students.

Thank you.

2024 REGIONAL COMPETITION RECAP

The International Affairs Forum hosted its 11th annual Academic WorldQuest regional competition on February 22, 2024 at Northwestern Michigan College. 93 students from 7 high schools competed this year -- the largest AWQ event in northern Michigan to date! Participating schools included:  

Elk Rapids High School

Grand Traverse Academy

Interlochen Arts Academy

Leland Public School

Traverse City Central High School

Traverse City St. Francis High School

Traverse City West High School

IAF sent the winning team -- Quiz Pro Quo of Traverse City Central High School -- to Washington, D.C. for the Carlos and Malú Alvarez Academic WorldQuest National Competition hosted by the World Affairs Councils of America. This trip is a life-changing experience in our nation's capital for these four promising students. Academic WorldQuest and the students' trip is made possible by IAF members, individual donors, and dedicated volunteers. Thank you for your gifts of support, your time, and your energy. 

Want to show your support?

Donate today & make a direct impact on local Academic WorldQuest students.

Thank you.

2023 RECAP

The International Affairs Forum hosted its 10th annual Academic WorldQuest regional competition on March 9, 2023 at the Mark & Helen Osterlin Building at Northwestern Michigan College. 15 teams from the following northern Michigan secondary schools competed and proved their knowledge of global affairs: Elk Rapids High School, Grand Traverse Academy, Interlochen Arts Academy, Traverse City Central High School, Traverse City St. Francis High School, Traverse City West High School.

Thanks to community support, IAF sent the winning team to Washington, D.C. on April 28-29, 2023 for the Carlos and Malú Alvarez Academic WorldQuest National Competition hosted by the World Affairs Councils of America. Amara, Jackson, Cole, and Trey proudly represented Traverse City Central High School, northern Michigan, IAF, and Northwestern Michigan College in national competition at the United States Institute of Peace.

While in D.C., the team visited the United States Capitol building with a tour from U.S. Representative Jack Bergman's staff. They explored our nation's history at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. They visited the campuses of George Washington University and Georgetown University.

This trip is a life-changing experience in our nation's capital for these four promising students. Your support made their trip possible. Now you can make AWQ 2024 possible. Show your support today.

Academic WorldQuest is made possible by IAF members, individual donors, and dedicated volunteers. Thank you for your generosity and energy. You help make this experience possible for our area high school students.

Congratulations to this year's top three teams!

AWQ Regional Winners 2023

1st place: Quiz Pro Quo - Traverse City Central High School

2nd place: The Elks - Elk Rapids High School

3rd place: The Genghis Gang - Traverse City West High School

Sincere thanks to our generous sponsors and door prize donors:

Jimmy John's

Traverse City Record-Eagle

Bay Bread Company

Besy Buy

Common Good Bakery

Elev8 Climbing and Fitness

Grand Traverse Pie Company

NMC Hawk Owl Cafe

Kilwin's

Lucky Jack's

Mundo's Roasting & Co.

Murdick's Fudge

M22

Oryana Community Co-op

Petoskey Pretzel Co.

Potter's Bakery

Shanty Creek Resort