The competitive event is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday, in the Cleveland State Community College auditorium. Admission is free and the general public is invited to attend.
Competition will be divided into middle school and high school divisions.
Participants will include: Middle School — Corbin Hines, John Sarver, Amyia Brown, Jerry Robinson and Shanise Robinson; and at the High School level, Jasmine Blair, Tyshawn Chapman, Symone Ferguson, Shama Ferguson and Mariana Edwards.
The two organizations promoted the competition in the Cleveland City School and Bradley County School systems, and these students agreed to prepare for the event.
Each student is responsible for reading the book, “The Negro in the Making of America.”
Competitors will be prepared to answer a series of questions about the contents of the book in a competitive learning experience for students interested in becoming more aware of the rich heritage of African-Americans.
The book selected for this competition is informative and can provide students with understanding and appreciation of African-American history, event coordinators explained.
Cash prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place winners in each division. Winners at the local level will advance to a competition in Atlanta to represent Cleveland and Bradley County at the national conference of 100 Black Men of America in June.
Two teams, made up of the first- and second-place winners from the local Heritage Bowl, will compete in Atlanta. Third-place winners in each division will serve as alternates, if needed.
Winners in Atlanta, with teams coming from across the nation, will receive an assortment of prizes.
The 100 Black Men of Bradley County organization has entered a team in the national competition in the past, but this is the first local American Heritage Bowl to determine participants.
Anyone with questions about the Heritage Bowl competition can call RaSharon King at 423-987-3356 or Dr. Michael Laney at 423-790-4294.
