By Barbara Augsdorfer, editor for the Effingham Herald
The 2025 Quick Think-a-Thon was more subdued than in years past – not for lack of competitors, but classmates who were not competing did not pack the Effingham County High School gym on March 6 so the day could be counted as a storm make-up day.
Second-graders – barely seven or eight years old – had to answer some tough questions about stranger danger and peer pressure using complete sentences and higher-level reasoning skills to impress a panel of judges.
In addition to the competitors and alternates, teachers and a few parents were present to cheer on their students.
The 16 students were the school champions from each of the eight elementary schools in the district.
Local TV station WTOC anchor Mike Cihla was the emcee – introducing the students and reading three scenarios for each student to answer. The students did not know which question they would be asked.
The judges scored each student on their responses and presentation. Judges were: R. Scott Russel, foundation director for Effingham Health System; Vanessa Denison, middle school curriculum and K12 gifted coordinator; Eva Goldwire, patient care tech and lay ministry; Dr. Norma Wallace, Effingham County retired educator; Ashley Boyett, owner, State Farm Insurance, Rincon; and Pastor Lon Harden, Macedonia Baptist Church and Effingham County Industrial Development Authority member.
Scorekeepers were Rebecca Boston, retired DCFS director; and Jim R. Presnell, Presnell Partners Real Estate Team.
Questions for the students ranged from, “You’re at a friend’s house and your friend finds beer in the refrigerator. Is it okay to drink beer at your friend’s house?” Or, “Your friend’s mother gives you an invitation to your friend’s birthday party. Is it okay to go?”
To help the students, the “Foozer” would be a reference point. At the competition, the Foozer was played by Sundi Williamson, a Rincon-based State Farm agent.
The questions had to be answered completely and logically with an explanation. For example, the student might answer the first question with, “The Foozer would say, ‘No! It’s not okay to drink the beer your friend found in the refrigerator because kids should not drink alcohol. Then you should tell a parent what happened.”
The second question could be answered, “Yes, the Foozer would say that it would be okay to go to the party because the invitation was given to you by an adult you know. But tell a parent you’re going so they will know where you are the day of the party.”
Other questions covered topics such as refusing to take a ride with a stranger – even if the stranger looked “nice” or offered money, to resisting peer pressure, to knowing what to do during a house fire or an earthquake to keep safe.
At the end of the hour-long question-and-answer period, Zoe Crouch from Marlow Elementary was named the 2025 Quick Think-a-Thon champion. Amanda DiSalvo is her teacher. Crouch received a large trophy and a new bike from the Exchange Club.
First runner-up was Lillian Haddock from Guyton Elementary, teacher: Sarah Crapse; second runner-up was Roman Fabela, also from Marlow Elementary, teacher: Amanda DiSalvo; and third runner-up was Nora Hill from Ebenezer Elementary, teacher: Kimberly Rahn.
