African-American History Challenge

The 100 Black Men of Central Illinois (100 BMCI) African American History Challenge (AAHC) is an educational and scholarship program designed to enhance the study of African-American history. It is also intended to increase the interest of young people in learning that history, understanding its legacy, and in living lives worthy of that legacy. Contestants will compete on the basis of their accumulated knowledge of names, dates, places and events in African-American history.

The 100 BMCI AAHC will be a part of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc.’s African American History Challenge which takes place during the national organization’s annual conference. Contestants in the national competition are sponsored by 100 Black Men chapters from around the country which begin preparing these contestants months before the national competition.

The 100 BMCI will field a team of chapter contestants at the high school level to compete in the national competition’s Senior Division (high school). The 100 BMCI will work with participating high schools in the Bloomington-Normal area to produce competitive students who will go on to compete in the Twin-Citywide competition. The winners of the Twin-Citywide competition will represent the 100 BMCI at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the 100 Black Men, to be held in New York City June 11-14.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY COMPETITION DATELINES

School-Level Competitions Completed by December 15, 2008

City-wide Competition Scheduled for February 21, 2009

National Competition Scheduled for June 11-14 in NYC

PRIZES FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY COMPETITION

School Competition

1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place awards – and certificates of participation for all non-placing participants -- to be provided by 100 BMCI.

Twin-Citywide Competition

High School Division
1st Place Award -- $1000 Scholarship/person (2)
2nd Place Award -- $500 Scholarship/person (2)
Semifinalists that do not make the finals: $100 scholarship
1st and 2nd round participants that do not make the semi-finals: Prizes each valued at approximately $100

National Competition

Senior Division
1st Place Award -- $3000 Scholarship/person (2)
2nd Place Award -- $1000 Scholarship/person (2)