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Tsawwassen teen qualifies for Scholar’s Cup at Yale

South Delta Secondary’s Art Yu may be a future contestant on Jeopardy! if he continues in his quest for knowledge. The 13-year-old Grade 9 student is heading to the Global World Scholar’s Cup Tournament of Champions at Yale University in November.
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Art Yu is heading to the Global World Scholar’s Cup Tournament of Champions at Yale University

South Delta Secondary’s Art Yu may be a future contestant on Jeopardy! if he continues in his quest for knowledge.

The 13-year-old Grade 9 student is heading to the Global World Scholar’s Cup Tournament of Champions at Yale University in November.

After sweeping the regional round in Vancouver earlier this year, Yu and two other members of his PACE team prepared for the September global round in Sydney, Australia, where he qualified for forthcoming finals in the U.S.  

Studying for the global round in Australia was a “priority” item on Yu’s summer agenda but that also included the list of odd-jobs that earned him most of the $1,500 registration fee. Friends, neighbours and parishioners of St. David’s Anglican Church, where Yu and his parents worship, were quick to sign up for this pop-up dogsbody.

Regional competitions are held yearly in many cities around the world and are open to students from grades 6 to 12. The program attracts some 20,000 participants in two age groups. Global level competitions are held once a year in six cities, the final one at Yale.

In his first year of competition, Yu won 17 regional faux-gold medals (known as SEALS) in the junior division (up to 13 years) and two prestigious Asimov Awards. One Asimov trophy was awarded for being the highest individual-score student in the curriculum part of the Scholar’s Challenge, and in recognition of the student’s vast knowledge and understanding of the World Scholar’s Cup curriculum. The second was won for excellence in a science category.

Yu then added the more distinctive SEAL that entitled him to compete in Sydney, where he achieved the one he will wear to Yale.

Apart from competing as an individual contender, Yu joined his Vancouver teammates to take second place in Team Challenge and four Top 10 trophies. Collectively, the trio racked up 29 gold and 10 silver SEALS.