Academic WorldQuest™

Some 50 World Affairs Councils hold local Academic WorldQuest (AWQ) competitions for high school students in their communities. Since 2003, winning teams have traveled to Washington, DC, every April to vie for the national championship.

The Carlos and Malú Alvarez Academic WorldQuest National Competition is made possible by sponsors and sustained by our AWQ Endowment. To become a sponsor, please contact WACA by phone at 202-833-4557 or email waca@worldaffairscouncils.org.

2021 Academic WorldQuest National Competition

The Carlos and Malú Alvarez 2021 Academic WorldQuest National Competition took part on Saturday, April 17, 2021, at 1:30 - 5:30 PM ET. More than 400 students from 38 Councils came together to compete in this year's 19th annual Academic WorldQuest National Competition! Congratulations to all of the teams who participated. 

• AWQ 2021 Press Release
• AWQ 2021 Team Rankings

Congratulations to this year's winners:

• First Place: Plano West High School (Team 2) – World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth
• Second Place: Allen High School – World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth
• Third Place: Rampart High School – Colorado Springs World Affairs Council

Watch the AWQ 2021 USIP Keynote and announcement of the winning teams!

AWQ 2021 in the News:

• "Keeping Peacebuilding Alive During a Difficult Year" U.S. Institute of Peace, June 7, 2021
• "Carmel High School Teams Finish in Top 10 at WorldQuest National Competition" Current, April 30, 2021
• "Rampart High in Colorado Springs produces top competitors in world affairs" Colorado Politics, April 19, 2021
• "Academic WorldQuest 2021 Winners Announcement" WAC New Jersey
• "City sponsors global affairs quiz team in national contest debut" The Holland Sentinel, April 27, 2021
• "Pinnacle Group Academic WorldQuest" WAC Dallas/Fort Worth
• "Middletown: Team from Mater Dei Prep Headed to 2021 National Academic WorldQuest Competition" Rozlyn Engel -- Tap into Middletown, April 6, 2021
• "World Affairs Council of the Desert Continues Its Mission Virtually" Rebecca O'Connor -- Desert Sun, April 9, 2021
• "Coachella Valley Students Take Part in WorldQuest Competition" Patch, April 6, 2021
• "High Schoolers Take Bronze at WAC Houston's Competition, Advance to Academic WorldQuest 2021" The Posy Oak School, March 31, 2021

2020-2021 AWQ Topics

• Global Protests
• Shifting Sands: The Arab Spring 10 Years On
• International Labour Organization (ILO)
• The U.S. Foreign Service in the 21st Century
• Great DecisionsCountry in Focus: Uzbekistan
  • Climate Change and the Global Order
  • India and Pakistan
  • Rea Sea Security
  • Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
  • U.S. Relations with the Northern Triangle
  • China’s Road into Latin America
  • The Philippines and the U.S.
  • Artificial Intelligence and Data
• Exploring Peace in a World of Conflict
• Fraying Alliances
• Looking to a Post-Pandemic Economy
• Current Events

Academic WorldQuest Sponsors