What is WorldQuest?
This page will be updated as announcements are made available for the next competition, which will be held in January 2026.
About WorldQuest
Academic WorldQuest tests players’ knowledge of current international politics, geography, global economics, history, and world cultures. Each year, over 50 World Affairs Councils across the country hold local Academic WorldQuest competitions for high school students in their communities. Since 2003, winning teams have traveled to Washington, DC every April to vie for the national championship.
Why WorldQuest?
Preparing the next generation of leaders, scholars, and decision-makers to thrive in a rapidly changing world—where our national interests are intertwined with the global community—is one of the greatest challenges facing our country. It requires a renewed enthusiasm for global studies in our high schools. Too many American students today fall behind their counterparts from other countries in their knowledge and understanding of world history, geography, and current international events.
The mission of Academic WorldQuest is to close the gap.
2025 Academic WorldQuest Recap
This year’s event brought together more than 215 bright and globally minded students from Bartlett, South, Eagle River, Wasilla, Chugiak, Steller, and Romig. For the second year in a row, Eagle River High School won the local competition! Steller Secondary came in very close second place, and Chugiak High School rounded out the top three with a strong third-place finish. As the winning team, Eagle River High School represented Alaska at the national Academic WorldQuest competition in Washington, DC in April.
In between rounds, students enjoyed a pizza buffet and an engaging keynote from Tyler Arnold of Tyler Systems LLC, who spoke about creating opportunity in Alaska through AI-driven solutions.
A heartfelt thank you to ConocoPhillips for sponsoring the event, the Atwood Foundation for supporting student participation, and our generous in-kind donors — SteamDot Coffee Company, Kaladi Brothers Coffee, and Wild Scoops — for the fun door prizes.
SPONSORS:
Thank you to our generous event sponsor for our 2025 WorldQuest Competition:
Interested in sponsoring the next competition? Please contact Operations Director, Siobhan Choi, siobhan.choi@alaskaworldaffairs.org.