EAST LANSING, Mich. — High school students from throughout mid-Michigan will compete for scholarships to Michigan State University in the 23rd season of “QuizBusters,” premiering Saturday, Oct. 1, at 6 and 6:30 p.m., on WKAR-TV.
The season opens with a match between Hartland and Hastings at 6 p.m., followed by a clash between Fowler and Potterville at 6:30 p.m. Game show historian and memorabilia collector Matt Ottinger returns as the series host.
For the first time, “QuizBusters” will be available online at WKAR.org shortly after they are recorded, with four or more new episodes online at WKAR.org every week, beginning October 4.
“Teams often had to wait a month or more to see their games on TV,” said producer Mike Mihalus. “Now they can watch online within about a week of their match.”
Students from 64 mid-Michigan schools compete throughout the year to earn a spot in the championship series airing in May. Up to eight $5,000 tuition scholarships are provided by MSU to the teams from each division that make it to the grand championship. Grand champions also receive one-year textbooks scholarships from the Student Book Store.
This season, Mihalus has lined up a roster of guests from Michigan State University who will present video questions, including MSU Museum Director Gary Morgan; Lt. Col. Michael Connelly, commander of Air Force ROTC; Shawna Valdez, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory; Bob Hoffman, Wharton Center; Suzy Merchant, head women’s basketball coach; Dave Regan, faculty, Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Retailing; Ian Whiters, Japan Center for Michigan Universities; and Mike Scott, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory.
Other special guest questioners are singer/songwriter Jen Sygit and filmmaker Ken Burns.
The programs are repeated Sunday mornings at 11 and 11:30 a.m. on WKAR-TV and Tuesdays at 8 and 8:30 p.m. on WKAR World.
"QuizBusters" is underwritten in part by Consumers Energy and the Michigan Education Association.
WKAR-TV is part of MSU’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences. WKAR also includes television stations WKAR Create and WKAR World, WKAR Radio, WKAR.org, Interactive Video Services, and public services WKAR Radio Reading Service and WKAR Ready To Learn Service.
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Michigan State University has been working to advance the common good in uncommon ways for more than 150 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU focuses its vast resources on creating solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.