While many were parked on their sofas on Super Bowl Sunday, 12 fifth and sixth graders were enjoying their own bowl, only this one was academic-based.

Crescenta Valley Adventist Elementary School held its first Academic Bowl when fifth and sixth grade students from three schools competed for a trophy acknowledging their efforts. CV Adventist, Conejo Adventist and San Fernando Valley Adventist elementary schools each chose four students to participate in a healthy competition, highlighting those students who have worked hard and earned high marks in their education as well as in citizenship.

The event was created by Crescenta Valley Adventist Elementary teacher Wendy DiLullo-Newmyer who devised a competition high on energy and fast paced with each grade given 15 minutes to answer as many questions in four core subjects: English, math, science, and social studies.

Fifth graders Janis Leones and Zachary Barrientos from San Fernando Valley Elementary School took home the first place trophy. Ashley Ramos and Zane Arteaga from Conejo Adventist Elementary School placed second, and Zarinah Alarcon and Michael Matsuda from Crescenta Valley Adventist Elementary came in third.

Sixth graders Julianna O’Malley and Aaron Recalde from Crescenta Valley Adventist Elementary took home the first place trophy. Makani Crosby and Nathan Lew from Conejo Adventist Elementary School placed second, and Danielle Viray and Ronald Galvez from San Fernando Valley Elementary School came in third.

The students basked in the well-deserved attention they received from family, teachers, and friends.

“Being on stage was actually really fun,” said Zarinah. “I wasn’t even nervous.  Normally I would get kind of nervous on stage, but I really enjoyed pressing the buzzer and answering the questions.”

Jenny O’Malley, a mother of one of the contestants, was happy to see the students and families showing just as much excitement for the Academic Super bowl as for the athletic counterpart.

“It is exciting that people would invest as much energy and excitement [into] academics when so much is placed on athletes,” O’Malley said.

School officials expect the Academic Bowl to be an annual event.