school, others stay behind to broaden their knowledge of Bermuda and read up on current events.

Eight months of cramming during lunchtimes and after school finally paid off on Saturday night for six brainy teenagers from Berkeley Institute.

The public school's team of budding Jeopardy contestants won the seventh annual Bermuda Secondary Schools Quiz Contest, held at the Hamilton Princess and attended by some 200 proud parents and teachers.

The students have been getting together regularly since last September, pouring over the answers to 2,000 general knowledge questions and scanning the daily newspaper to catch up on current events.

Mr. Tony Roberts, from the Ministry of Youth and Sport which organises the quiz, said its main goal is to encourage learning.

"We want to encourage students to learn about Bermuda -- its past, who contributed to its development and its social and political aspects,'' he said. "While the quiz is the ultimate end, the principle objective is to encourage all students in the all local schools to learn about our Island.'' The teams had some difficulty identifying local personalities including chief education officer Mr. Dean Furbert and education secretary Mrs. Marion Robinson! But they breezed through the geography, history, sports, arts and wild card categories, being asked such questions as: What was Bermuda's wedding gift to Price Andrew and Fergie? (an antique map of the Island); what tree can change its sex when necessary? (paw paw); what is unique about Bermuda's coral reefs? (they are the most northerly in the world); and what singer/composer is confined to a wheelchair? (Mr. Tommy Outerbridge).

Some of the answers thrown out by the six teams in the current events category had the audience in stitches. For example, when they answered Sen. Charles Collis UBP, Shadow Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen and Opposition Leader Mr.

Frederick Wade instead of Mr. Joe Gibbons when asked: What executive officer of a local political party quit his stand-up comedy routine in nightclubs following a story in The Royal Gazette ? After winning, 14-year-old Keisha Allen said: "I feel very proud and very good about myself for learning the answers to so many questions.'' Her other team members were equally proud and excited, especially since it was the first time Berkeley Institute has won the contest.

Berkeley Institute competed against five other schools who made it to the finals. The results were: Berkeley Institute (235 points), Mount Saint Agnes Academy (220 points), Saltus Grammar (190 points), Sandys Secondary (185 points), Whitney Institute (155 points) and Warwick Academy (140 points).

Although the Berkeley Institute team coached by teacher Ms Sandra Smith had a ten-point lead over the MSA team at half time, the private school caught them up by the end of the second round.

The result was a tense round of tie breaker questions with Berkeley Institute coming out on top.

The winning school walked away with vouchers for books and stationary, free advertising for school functions in The Royal Gazette , a computer from Bermuda Computer Services and another from Cable and Wireless. And each contestant in the quiz was presented with a Bermuda silver dollar commemorative coin from the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

Youth and Sport Minister the Hon. Pamela Gordon praised the contest for arming youngsters with self esteem. And she said it was important that youngsters get recognised in the media when they do something good instead of just when they do something wrong.

She added: "Maybe Mr. Dean Furbert and Mrs. Marion Robinson will have to get around to the schools more often.'' Some $450 raised through donations at the door was given to the charity chosen by the six schools participating -- the Sunshine League.

BUDDING BRAINS OF BERMUDA -- The six-member Berkeley Institute team shows off plaques and shields it was presented with after winning the Bermuda Secondary Schools Quiz Contest and answering the most questions in the current events category. Pictured standing (from left): contest sponsor and manager of Bermuda Computer Services Mr. William Ingham, Azelia Providence, contest sponsor and general manager of The Royal Gazette Limited Mr. Keith R. Jensen, team captain Regina Ferguson, Youth and Sport Minister the Hon. Pam Gordon, Keisha Allen and Youth and Sport Director Mr. Tony Roberts. Kneeling are: Joy