Prize Update – 2013 Academic WorldQuest for High School Students

The Tennessee World Affairs Council will host the 2013 State Championship Match for Academic WorldQuest for high school students on February 23, 2013 at Belmont University. Today TN WAC is pleased to announce that through the generosity of an anonymous donor we are able to add a special prize at the competition for the 2nd place team — a Kindle Fire tablet for each of the four team members and the coach.

TN WAC Launches 2013 Academic WorldQuest for High School Students

This year marks the 3rd Tennessee Academic WorldQuest competition and the 11th Annual competition among the network of World Affairs Councils of America. The Tennessee State Championship match is set for February 23, 2013 at Belmont University in Nashville. The winning team from Tennessee will travel to Washington for the National Championship match at Georgetown University on April 27, 2013, as well as tours and visits to international affairs organizations in the nation’s capital.

Distinguished Speaker Program: The Changing Middle East – Nov 13

Join us for a special presentation of the Council’s Distinguished Visiting Speaker Program on November 13th. — The “Arab Spring” and the challenge it presents to American foreign policy and interests across North Africa and the Near East has raised new and complicated questions jumping out of the headlines. There could be no timelier topic for us to discuss than the tension between America and the Arab and Islamic worlds. We seek to understand these developments and how they impact U.S. interests in these important regions. Join us for an insightful presentation by renowned Professor Richard Bulliett as he explores “Political Authority in a Changing Middle East.” He comes to the Tennessee World Affairs Council through a grant by the Carnegie Corporation in association with the World Affairs Councils of America.

Tennessee WorldQuest Champs: Montgomery Bell Academy

Congratulations to the Montgomery Bell Academy Academic WorldQuest team on their victory in the 2012 Tennessee State Championship match today. Team members Jake Simons, John Mellow, McKay Proctor and Will Stewart, and coach Annie Williams will represent Tennessee at the World Affairs Councils of America national competition for WorldQuest at Georgetown University in Washington, DC on April 21, 2012. Well done to all the competitors today including teams from Cookeville High School, Stratford STEM Magnet High School, Hillsboro High School and Martin Luther King, Jr., Magnet High School.

IMPORTANT DATE CHANGE: Turkey Workshop Reset to Apr 14

The Tennessee World Affairs Council announced today that the “Spotlight on Turkey” teachers workshop, phase I of the program, has been rescheduled for April 14, 2012 (vice March 24, 2012). The change was made to permit registration of additional teachers, to reach the program minimum participation level. “Spotlight on Turkey” is a three part program offered by TN WAC and supported by a grant from the Turkish Cultural Foundation (TCF) in cooperation with the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA). It includes the spring teacher’s workshop (Apr 14) at Belmont University, Nashville; a study tour to Turkey (three teachers nominated by TN WAC); and an outreach program in the fall.

HS Students/Teachers – Get Your “WorldQuest” Team Organized – Deadline Approaching

Academic WorldQuest is the flagship youth education program of the Tennessee World Affairs Council (TN WAC) and the national network of World Affairs Councils. It is a team game testing high school students’ knowledge of international affairs. The TN WAC is organizing a WorldQuest competition for Tennessee high school students to encourage global affairs awareness education. The Council will assist teams in preparation and organize the state championship match, hosted at Belmont University APRIL 1, 2012. The winning team in Tennessee will advance to the National Championship match in Washington (April 21, 2012), with transportation and lodging provided by the Tennessee Council. | Follow the post to details on AWQ.

HS Essay Contest – Winners to Tour Azerbaijan This Summer – Mar 1 Deadline

We are pleased to announce a National High School Essay Contest on the Republic of Azerbaijan in partnership with the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) National Office and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for the 2011-2012 year. Ten Student Winners will be invited by WACA to participate in a two week-Study Tour of Azerbaijan. The program is open to all high school students in Tennessee. | Read the Post for Details

Spotlight on Turkey – Sign up Now for Workshop & Study Tour

The Tennessee World Affairs Council is pleased to offer the “Spotlight on Turkey” program for the third year. Through this program the Council has been able to offer teacher workshops and study tours and community outreach in the subject area of Turkish culture, history, art, architecture, cuisine and more. The TN WAC participated in 2008 and 2009, and has been selected again for 2012. Check out this post for all the details!

Global IQ with The Economist: State Capitalism (Time Sensitive)

Get the world at your desktop on Friday, January 20th with this month’s edition of Global I.Q. with The Economist. The first Global I.Q. of the year features Adrian Wooldridge, Schumpeter columnist and management editor for The Economist who will discuss his forthcoming special report on State Capitalism. Go beyond the pages with the World Affairs Council and The Economist as you submit your questions live for Jim and Adrian, helping to guide the conversation in this free, online webinar.