|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Matt was a dedicated and accomplished Quiz Bowler throughout his college
career. As an undergraduate at Iowa State, he participated in tournaments throughout the country. He had just
completed his first semester of graduate study at the University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign, where he had continued to be active in Quiz Bowl, when he came
down suddenly with acute pancreatitis. He died on January 2nd, 2005.
We began our buzzer grant program in 2005, hoping to continue Matt's love for
Quiz Bowl and help make it possible for Middle and High School students to
participate with all of the requisite equipment. Due to partnerships with other
organizations we have been able to award more than our usual 10 grants per year.
In 2009, we were able to award 2 buzzer grants to Indiana schools in cooperation
with the organizers of the Rotary Northern Indiana Championship Tournament. Each year beginning in 2010 we've had 2nd chance drawings using donations from high school
tournaments held in Illinois by Donald Taylor. We've also been fortunate to
receive donations from several other individuals and organizations which will allow us to award some
additional buzzer grants in the coming years. Thank you all so much.
Our first selection for the 2012 - 2013 school year was held on September 15, 2012. On December 1, 2012 we selected 11 more teams who each received a $200 Matt's Buzzers grant. One of the selections was made possible by donations from the Contributors to the Early Autumn Collegiate Novice Tournament, Ellen Pazdro (Matt's grandma) and Donna Holley (Matt's aunt and Godmother). Thank you so much for your support.
Any applications submitted after December 1st will be held for the drawing that encompasses the 2013-2014 school year. If you're having problems submitting the application through our website, please feel free to email your school's, team's and coach's information to mattsbuzzers@gmail.com.
Please see our Facebook page for news and updates as the school year
progresses.
Matt's
Buzzers on Facebook | Buzzer Company Partners
We'd like to thank the following companies specializing in buzzer systems who
have partnered with us to offer a 15% discount toward the purchase of a buzzer
system by any Matt's Buzzers grant recipient.
- Zeecraft Tech
- 4 D Designs Quik Pro
Buzzer Systems
- BuzzerSystems.com
- Slammer Systems
- AffordableBuzzers.com
Donors for 2012
Thank you all very much!
-
Donald Taylor and Matt Laird, who donated the proceeds from a Pop Culture tournament that was held during Loyola Academy's Ultima Tournament in January 2012.
-
Donald Taylor and the Northern Illinois Univ. Quiz Bowl Assoc. who donated the proceeds from a doubles tournament held following their ATROPHY HS tournament in April 2012.
-
Donation in Honor of Jonah Greenthal's Graduation
-
Gate City Bank, Fargo, ND
-
Ellen Pazdro
-
Contributors to the Early Autumn Collegiate Novice Tournament: Andrew Hart of University of Minnesota, Mike Hundley of Virginia Tech, Ian Drayer of UCLA, Shan Kothari of Michigan State, and Siddhant Dogra of Detroit Country Day High School
-
Donna Holley | Recent Recipients
2012 Gate City Bank Donation Recipient (Selected in September 2012)
- The Piarist School, Martin, KY
2012 Recipients (Selected in December 2012)
- Southwestern High School, Piasa, IL
- Hydro-Eakly Public Schools, Hydro, OK
- Princeton Day School, Princeton, NJ
- Stillman Valley High School, Stillman Valley, IL
- Massac County High School, Metropolis, IL
- Crete Monee High School, Crete, IL
- Cairo High School, Cairo, IL
- Marion High School, Marion, IL
- Dutchtown High School, Geismar, LA
- AMSA Charter School, Marlborough, MA
- Treasure Valley Math and Science Center, Boise, ID
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|