THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, March 17, 1996                 TAG: 9603150250
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS      PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   30 lines

STUDENTS TO VIE IN ACADEMIC CHALLENGE

Teams of Tidewater's top public high school students will face off Friday night when Portsmouth hosts this year's Tidewater Academic Challenge regional competition.

Eight cities - Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, Gloucester and Poquoson - will send their district champion teams to compete for a traveling trophy and the opportunity to advance to the national competition later this year.

In Portsmouth, Churchland High won the city championship and will host the tournament at Churchland High as it did last year.

The double elimination tournament will ask academic questions specially prepared by two educational consultants. The competition begins at 4 p.m., with the final round slated for 6 p.m. Spectators and fans are welcome, said Beverly C. Jackson, Portsmouth's Tidewater Academic Challenge representative and the tournament's coordinator.

Between rounds, students will have a chance to mingle.

``The tournament promotes academic camaraderie with the kids having a chance to talk and to get to know each other,'' Jackson said. by CNB