Your Passport to Global Affairs
Become a Member Donate

Academic WorldQuest 

Academic WorldQuest is a fun, fast-paced team game testing students’ knowledge of international affairs. In the game, four-person teams compete by answering questions divided into ten theme categories. The program tests players’ knowledge of subjects such as current international politics, geography, global economics, history, forms of government, capitals of the world, citizenship and the U.S. Constitution, ancient civilizations, U.S. history, the U.S. in world affairs, world leaders, world cultures, and more.

Some 50 World Affairs Councils, including the Naples Council on World Affairs (NCWA), hold AWQ competitions for students in their communities.The winner is the team with the most correct answers. One winning high school team is invited to represent their high school, city, and local World Affairs Council at the Carlos and Malú Alvarez Academic WorldQuest National Competition in Washington DC, held in the spring each year. 

For more than a decade, NCWA has sponsored AWQ competitions in two programs in Collier County -- one for public and independent high schools and the second for middle schools. For the coming season, the Middle School AWQ will be March 2, 2024, and the High School AWQ on March 23, 2024, both at the Community School of Naples. The NCWA winning high school team will be sent to national competition in Washington DC on April 20, 2024.

This season's subject categories for the high school competition will be:

  • The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): Alliance and Collective Defense in a Changing World
  • Demographic Dividends - Population Shift in Africa
  • The Global South 
  • Sports and Diplomacy
  • Country in Focus: South Korea
  • Promoting a Green Europe
  • Women's Contributions to Track II Diplomacy 
  • Navigating AI: The Global Workforce 
  • Great Decisions
  • Current events

Try your hand at answering the study questions, and see how you score!  Click here for the 2023-24 study guide.

High School Academic World Quest Winners for 2023


Team A from Gulf Coast High School placed first and later participated in national competition in Washington DC. From left are Jim Seymour, NCWA chair of the competition; Bharath Ram, Noah Thorne, Liam Castro and Grant Arnold.



Placing second was Team A from Barron Collier High School. From left are Jim Seymour, NCWA chair of the competition; Alexia Espinoza Vlad, Darshan Dadlani, Chris Garcia and Gabriella Chernysh.



Team C from Gulf Coast High School won third. From left are Jim Seymour, NCWA chair for the competition; social studies teacher Sue Soulard; David Sage, Vincent Nguyen, Topher Fontana, Arlind Agollari, and Mark Walchak, chair of the NCWA School Outreach program.


Middle School Academic WorldQuest Winners for 2023


Team C from North Naples Middle School won first place in the Middle School Academic World Quest Competition. From left are Mark Walchak, NCWA School Outreach Committee chair; Mikie Stroh, coordinator for K-12 social studies programs for Collier County Public Schools; Bennett Bozman; Luke Brown; Aaron Bozman; Karthik Pandiri; Sandy Karaganis, chair of the MS AWQ program, and Ashley
Giannone, faculty coach of the team.



Team A of Oakridge Middle School won second place in the 2023 Middle School Academic World Quest Competition. From left are Jack Pustizzi, Isaac Garatejo Zambrano, Emma Dorey, and Aarohee Dabas.



Team C of the Community School of Naples won third place. From left are Mark Walchak, NCWA School Outreach chair; Max Dockweiler; Jack Champion; Sam Saad; Thomas Lovse; Sandy Karaganis, chair of the MS AWQ program; and NCWA President Jim Schmotter. Scott Miles was faculty coach.


Middle school students prepare for the competition at the Community School of Naples.


What We Do: Our Mission

We educate, inspire and engage our community in international affairs and global issues.

Naples Council on World Affairs

3250 Bonita Beach Rd. #205, Bonita Springs, FL 34134
ncwaorg@gmail.com | 239-649-3942


Privacy Policy
© 2024 NCWA. All rights reserved.
Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software