Boston Latin Academy student wins first-ever 'National Vocabulary Championship Boston competition

BOSTON - Richard Goggin of Hyde Park, a 17-year-old junior at Boston Latin Academy, outperformed 74 other local vocabulary high school scholars recently, winning the first-ever Boston citywide championship in the National Vocabulary Championship (NVC). As the local champion, Goggin earned $5,000 toward a higher education savings plan and qualifies to compete in the National Vocabulary Championship finals in New York City on March 5, 2007.

The National Vocabulary Championship is a nationwide educational initiative conceived by television network GSN that aims to promote the importance of vocabulary skills in school, at work and at play. Along with its educational partner, The Princeton Review, the NVC is hosting eight citywide events prior to the New York City finals. The finals will feature Goggin as he competes head-to-head with 49 other students from around the country to win $40,000 toward a college savings plan and be named the National Vocabulary Champion.

Goggin sealed his victory by correctly answering eight of the ten final round questions in the fastest time -- one minute and 17 seconds. The runner-up in the local contest was Kadian Simmonds of Mattapan, a 17-year-old senior also from Boston Latin Academy. Simmonds answered six questions correctly in one minute and 42 seconds.

The Boston event, sponsored by Comcast Cable, was held in the ballroom at the Northeastern University Curry Student Center and featured 75 high school students aged between 13-and-19 from the following Boston public high schools: Academy of Public Service, Boston Community Leadership Academy, Boston Latin Academy, Brighton High School, Brook Farm Business and Service Career Academy, Community Academy, Community Academy of Science and Health, East Boston High School, Excel High School, Greater Egleston Community High School, Jeremiah E. Burke High School and Urban Science Academy.

On hand lending support to the event were such dignitaries as Boston Public Schools Superintendent Michael G. Contompasis, Northeastern School of Education Acting Dean and Director Thomas Gilbert and City Councilor John Tobin.

"We are very proud of Richard and all of the BPS high school students who participated in this exciting competition," said Contompasis. "It's great to see students energized and excited about learning. This program is a tremendous way for students to gain valuable skills and knowledge while having fun in the process."

The final round featured NVC host Dylan Lane, who also serves as host of GSN's television series "Chain Reaction," reading different paragraphs to the last seven competitors. The final contestants answered myriad questions involving specific words in their respective paragraphs. The questions focused on synonyms, antonyms and definitions. The contestant who responded with the most correct answers in the shortest period of time under the two-minute time limit was the winner.

"GSN is taking the NVC across the country to raise awareness of the importance of language arts in the classroom," said Dena Kaplan, Senior Vice President of Marketing, GSN. "We're investing in America's future by providing money for college to winning students as well as making vocabulary fun and relevant in the game of life. We are thrilled that we will be seeing Richard Goggin at the national finals in March."

Comcast has lent support since August by airing "Win with Words" public service announcements. Celebrities Whoopi Goldberg, Jeff Probst, Tom Bergeron and others joined the network in filming these PSAs that encourage high school students to expand their vocabulary and, in turn, their opportunities in life.

"It's very exciting to be able to combine the community, education and our cable products for such an enjoyable and educational event," said Vic Pascarelli, Area Vice President of Comcast's Boston system.

To learn more about the NVC, log on to www.winwithwords.com.