George C Marshall High School - Columbian Yearbook (Falls Church, VA)

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receive recognition Trivia experts found their knowledge was needed on the It's Academic Team. Meeting every Monday and Friday until their match in October, the team was quizzed in order to quicken reflexes. Team members also kept a running tally of correct responses, so the three top-scoring members could be chosen for TV competition. Appearing on television against Lake Braddock and Springbrook, a high school in Maryland, Marshall finished with a close second place, scoring 460 points. Springbrook won the match with a score of 480, and Lake Braddock finished last with 260 points. After their defeat, team practices recessed until April, when tryouts for the 1977-78 team were conducted. The high standards of the Debate Team led the extremely dedicated and talented members to nationwide competitions. Traveling across the country to meets in Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Washington, the team demonstrated their oratory skills. With a new coach, Mr. Hank Youngerman of Georgetown University, the team was able to develop its debating skills to a higher level than ever before. Proud of their outstanding record, the team members strove even harder to earn more trophies. Funds for their cross-country competitions were provided partly by the school, with the remainder of the expenses falling on the debaters and their coach. Costs were cut by carpooling to matches. With prepared questions, Mr. Jack Hurley drills the It's Academic Team members in order to sharpen and increase their skills. Alert and ready to buzz first on the next question, It's Academic Team members Doug McMahon, Brenda Ponsford, Peter Hodges, and Simon Hodges compete for the three top positions during a practice. It's Academic — Debate Team 135

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Scholastic competitors 4 member of both the It's Academic Team and the Debate Team, Larry McClure practices for the TV taping of the show. As moderator Mr. Mac McGarry, It's Academ-ic Team sponsor Mr. Jack Hurley, and team members Larry McClure and Simon Hodges pose for the picture, a Giant Food representative presents a $100 check to team captain Peter Hodges. PETER Foreign policy is discussed by Chris Mihm, portraying the role of President Ford, during the Ford-Carter mock debate assembly in late October. Content after having responded to the last question correctly, Doug McMahon anticipates the next question during an after school practice. 134 It's Academic — Debate Team

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Getting down to heritage Traditional projects were modified by original input from the members of the Ebony Club. Desiring to instigate black awareness among the entire school population, the club attempted to promote respect and unity for all races at Marshall. The club's initial effort was a disco dance after a home basketball game. A radio disc jockey played all the popular disco tunes while dancers boogied to the beat. Unfortunately, the dance didn't attract overwhelming numbers of Marshall students. Outside participants contributed to the success of the dance, though. Instead of the usual one-week stint. Ebony members put plans into effect to extend black history week to a month. Bulletin boards, announcements, and guest speakers were highlights of the project which was held in February. Communication difficulties encountered by not speaking English in an American school were dealt with by the English as a Second Language classes. Vietnamese, Korean, South American and French people were some of the students who assembled in a classroom to eliminate their language problems. School-wide recognition of ESL was increased, as several students tutored the foreign members in English and other academic subjects. Math and science skills especially rose as students began to understand better. Besides improving academically, ESL students developed close ties with the members of their class. Ebony Club president Teresa Costner, the backbone of club leadership, organizes and records ideas for colors, themes, and pictures for the black history bulletin boards. 136 ESL—Ebony