After Testing, a Quiz Bee Gives Middle School Students a Reason to Cheer

On Thursday, May 14, 2026, the Old Coors Campus gymnasium at MAS Charter School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, became the setting for a different kind of academic test, one measured by quick recall, fast hands and the sound of more than 100 students cheering from the stands.

Middle school students in grades 5-8 gathered for the finals of the Interclass Quiz Competition, an event that began after state testing and interim academic assessments as a way to encourage students to remain engaged through the final stretch of the 2025-2026 school year. The activity began as a spelling competition, expanded into mathematics, and grew into a full Quiz Bee covering subjects across the curriculum and beyond.

From Post-Testing Idea to Campuswide Competition

The competition had two main objectives: to maintain student motivation after state testing and to encourage teamwork through friendly academic competition.

All middle school classes at the Old Coors Campus participated. In the opening round, students competed against classmates within their own grade level in a knockout-style format. The quarterfinals brought grade levels together, with fifth grade facing sixth grade and seventh grade facing eighth grade. The semifinals followed the same structure, narrowing the field before Thursday’s championship round.

Questions were presented live and covered general knowledge, mathematics, English Language Arts, social studies, history, government, spelling, music and pop culture.

A Gym Filled With Energy

The final round lasted about 30 minutes, with the seventh grade Eastern cohort facing the sixth grade Eastern cohort in front of students from every middle school grade.

The atmosphere in the Old Coors Campus gym felt like a championship event. Students watched from the stands with their cohorts, followed each question and reacted as the teams moved closer to the finish. When seventh grade Eastern won, the crowd erupted in cheers.

“The wit and intelligence shown by our students along with the excitement and passion shown by the teachers made the event extraordinary,” said Dr. O’Neil Ankle, Middle School Leader of the Old Coors campus, who conceptualized and organized the competition.

Teachers Help Build the Momentum

Teachers across the middle school supported students as the competition moved from classroom rounds to the final stage.

Among those who played a primary role were:

• Dr. O’Neil Ankle, Middle School Leader
• Mr. Michael Ceresco, 8th Grade Math Special Education Teacher
• Ms. Monteza Hepburn, 7th Grade Test Prep Teacher
• Ms.Phoebe Rances, 6th Grade Math Special Education Teacher
• Mr. Daryl Aimes, 5th/6th Grade Physical Education Teacher
• Ms. Chatlyn Padirayon, 6th Grade Science Teacher
• Mr. Melbourne Padirayon, 5th Grade Science Teacher
• Mr. Josh Harrelson, Director of Middle School Math

Their work helped turn a post-testing activity into a schoolwide academic event that kept students focused and gave them a reason to cheer for their classmates.

Recognizing the Finalists

Grade 7 Eastern, the champion cohort, takes its name from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico.

The winning team included:

• Naomi Adame (Team Captain)
• Edward Hernandez
• Luna Roja
• Eric Proa

The runner-up team, Grade 6 Eastern, included:

• Shawndre Garza (Team Captain)
• Isabella Montoya
• Mason Pacheco
• Oliver Hankinson

Both teams received medals and cakes to bring back and share with their cohorts.

Looking Toward Next Year

The competition gave students a structured way to close the post-testing period with energy and purpose. It also showed how quickly a classroom idea can grow when students and teachers invest in it.

School leaders plan to consider bringing the event back next school year. For now, the first Interclass Quiz Competition ends with a winning team, a gym full of cheers and a reminder that academic effort can bring a school community to its feet.