Under the bright lights of a television studio, eight ASU students wait with baited breath, game-show buzzers in hand, for the moderator to end the question.
"In food or decorating, it means to add to or embellish. In law, it means to take away," said President Michael Crow, who moderated the final round of ASU's first Academic Bowl Monday.
A buzzer hums. "Garnish," said one student.
"That's right," Crow said.
The Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering won the contest, taking home the President's Cup and $4,500 scholarships for each team member.
Each member of the W.P. Carey School of Business team, the runner-up, took home a $1,000 scholarship.
The event was filmed at the KAET-TV, Channel 8, studios.
Engineering students Amy Teegarden, Marko Manojlovic, Karl Sturm and Andrew Holle led the team to the finals after beating the Herberger College of Fine Arts, University College and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Maroon team in earlier rounds.
In the final round, Engineering was behind Business at the half, 130 to 160.
"We knew a lot, but it also comes down to luck," Holle said. "Luck's not the only reason, but it certainly helped."
Business couldn't regain the lead, even after winning a question about a Mexican sage-plant species. Engineering won by only five points - 290 to 285.
"It was a good game," said Joseph Favre, an accounting senior. "We did everything we could do."
Sponsored by the ASU Office of Public Affairs, the trivia game is modeled after the National College Bowl and includes questions on current events, history, science, sports and culture.
"It was very great - very competitive. That's what we would like to see," Crow said. "Competition is what the University tries to teach.
"That's the way creative energies are generated, that's the way problems are solved, and that's the way the economy works."
Reach the reporter at: Annalyn.Censky@asu.edu.
