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Bergstrom Stateline Quiz Bowl renewed for three more seasons, expanding

June 18, 2015
The team from Rockford Auburn High School won the first Bergstrom Stateline Quiz Bowl.

The team from Rockford Auburn High School won the first Bergstrom Stateline Quiz Bowl.

Fresh off of the May 29 crowning Rockford’s Auburn High School as champions of the inaugural Bergstrom Stateline Quiz Bowl, the program is being renewed for three more years.

WTVO Channel 17 and WQRF FOX 39 along with Bergstrom, Inc. have committed to the popular half-hour television show through the 2018 school year.

It also will expand beginning this fall: The Bergstrom Stateline Quiz Bowl now  will feature students from 32 local high schools from nine local counties in a test of knowledge. Winning teams will earn valuable NIU scholarships.

WTVO/WQRF created the Bergstrom Stateline Quiz Bowl to increase awareness of the importance of education in northern Illinois and to highlight, challenge and reward the community’s best and brightest.

“The show exceeded my every expectation,” says Kelly Lattimer, VP and general manager of WQRF-TV, which provides services to WTVO-17 and produced the program.

“From the start, we had wanted to create something that had mass and community-wide appeal. Based on positive feedback from the community and TV ratings, I feel we are accomplishing that. As a local broadcaster serving the community, it’s the kind of show we should be doing. It just makes great TV for our local viewers and it puts the spotlight on continued improvement in education.”

WTVO anchor Nick Toma interviews NIU President Doug Baker before the May 29 finals.

WTVO anchor Nick Toma interviews NIU President Doug Baker before the May 29 finals.

But as Lattimer notes, the show would not be a reality without the continued support from partners Bergstrom Inc. and Northern Illinois University as well as other sponsors committed to improving educational opportunities for students in the stateline area.

Bergstrom Inc., a Rockford-based global company and leading designer/manufacturer of cab climate systems for commercial trucks, off-highway machines, military and other specialty vehicles, signed on as the title sponsor of the Bergstrom Stateline Quiz Bowl prior to the first season and is excited about the future of the show.

Season Two begins Oct. 24, and will air for 31 straight weeks, including 6:30 p.m. Saturdays on WTVO-17, 9:30 p.m. Sundays on WQRF-39 and 8:30 am Sundays on MyNetworkTV-17.2.