The Public Education Foundation of Moore County (MCPEF) wants to know how some of Moore County's brightest leaders will fare in a trivia contest with Moore County Schools' students. We will find out at 6 p.m., Thursday, November 17, 2011, when 12 community leaders test their knowledge with 36 fifth graders representing Moore County's public elementary schools.

Celebrity guests who will compete include:

   Baxter Clement, owner, Sandhills School of the Performing Arts
   Eric Corbet, owner, Chick-fil-A, Southern Pines
   Dr. John Dempsey, President, Sandhills Community College
   Jim Dodson, Sunday essayist, The Pilot; editor of PineStraw & O’Henry magazines
   Caroline Eddy, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sandhills
   Carolyn Helms, Children's Minister, First Baptist Church, Southern Pines
   Dick Higginbotham, Sr. Exec. Vice President/CFO, Pinehurst Resort & Country Club
   Marianne Kernan, President, National Alliance on Mental Illness - Moore County
   Tracy Metcalf, 2011 Moore County Teacher of the Year, Union Pines High School
   Chris Metzger, Head Football Coach, Pinecrest High School
   Audrey Moriarty, Executive Director, Given Memorial Library & Tufts Archives
   Dr. Larry Upchurch, retired Deputy Superintendent, Moore County Schools

Patrick Coughlin, President/CEO of the Moore County Chamber of Commerce, will be Master of Ceremonies and promises to keep the show moving and the participants honest.

Moore County Schools' finest fifth graders will partner with a celebrity guest and challenge other teams in a contest based on the popular television show. Topics will include science, math, history, grammar and sports.

The schools participating include: Aberdeen Elementary, Cameron Elementary, Carthage Elementary, Highfalls Elementary, Pinehurst Elementary, Robbins Elementary, Sandhills Farm Life Elementary, Southern Pines Elementary, Vass-Lakeview Elementary, Westmoore Elementary, West End Elementary, and West Pine Elementary

The mission of the Public Education Foundation of Moore County is to encourage excellence in educational practices in the Moore County Public Schools by providing financial support and recognition for engaging learning experiences.

Community support is essential in helping to raise the funds that are then "granted" to teachers for creative, educational projects. The Public Education Foundation of Moore County plans and executes a variety of fundraising events in order to help fulfill our mission.

For additional information or to be an event sponsor, please call Susan Sanders at (910) 295-2740.