Academic Bowl Hall of Fame

Gianni Manganelli (2014)

Gianni was a member of the University High School Academic Bowl from 2006 to 2009. During his freshman year, he won the Most Outstanding Player award at the West Regional held in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He went on to win a total of three Regional Most Outstanding Player awards and remains the only one to accomplish this feat. He carried his 2009 University High School team to a national championship over a heavily favored Indiana School for the Deaf team (who were defending champions that year). After winning the championship, he was honored as the Most Outstanding Player during the national competition. Gianni is the first inductee of the Academic Bowl Hall of Fame.

Robert McConnell (2016)

Robert was the first person in Academic Bowl history to go to the national competition for four consecutive years, back in the early years where only one team per region advanced to the National competition. During his freshman year, he took Ohio School for the Deaf to the national competition. In his sophomore and junior years, he won the national championships while at Model Secondary School for the Deaf. In his senior year, still with Model Secondary School for the Deaf, he lost at the national competition after a new rule was established in part because of Rob’s dominance. The new rule saw teams take turns answering questions in the 2nd round instead of letting one dominant player answer all of the questions in each match. There were no Most Outstanding Player awards in the early years, but if there were, he would have won several of them. Robert was unquestionably the “fastest finger” in the history of the competition.

David Uzzell (2016)

David was probably the most dominant player in the 20-year history of the National Academic Bowl. He played for John Hersey High School, a Midwest powerhouse, and led that team to four consecutive national competition appearances and the national championship in 2007. He was the only player in Academic Bowl history to win two National Most Outstanding Player awards. David majored in history at Gallaudet and was a member of two national championship College Bowl teams.

Mary Kovatch & Chuck Daube (2016)

Mary and Chuck have been two peas in a pod for the past 18 years as the legendary coaches for Indiana School for the Deaf. They have gone to the National competition 14 times in 18 years. They have won 8 Regional championships in the past 15 years. They have coached many Regional and National All-Stars, Regional Most Outstanding Players, and a National Most Outstanding Player. They have won three national championships with three completely different teams. They consistently have high expectations for their players and even after retiring from teaching, they are still seen at ISD every day for Academic Bowl practice.

Pia Marie Paulone (2016)

Pia Marie began out as a player on Indiana School for the Deaf Academic Bowl team, eventually winning two Regional Most Outstanding Player awards and one National Most Outstanding Player in 2003 when she led her team to the national championship. She also played two years on Gallaudet’s College Bowl teams, and then served two times as a coach. She was a part of the famed four-peat team at Gallaudet. She then served as the assistant coach of the Academic Bowl team at Texas School for the Deaf for four years. Pia Marie currently serves on the National Association of the Deaf’s College Bowl committee.

Kathy Vesey (2016)

Kathy has been the Director of Gallaudet University Regional Center for the Northeast region since 1990, a total of 26 years now. She has been involved in every regional competition since 1997 when the Academic Bowl first began. She also served on the Academic Bowl Executive Committee for many years. She works tirelessly in putting on well planned Regional competitions. Her expertise is working with teams from various programs to accommodate a wide variety of communication needs. She is level-headed, a woman of principle, and has a lot of respect from those of us in the Academic Bowl family.

Sherry Duhon (2016)

​Sherry has been a part of the Academic Bowl family from the very beginning. She has done everything for the Academic Bowl from being a proctor, door monitor, moderator, PowerPoint operator, Gallaudet University officer, director, and everything else. She directed the Academic Bowl for five years, including the two years where there was a single national competition with 80 teams attending Gallaudet University on one weekend. She worked hard to make these two years successful. Sherry also mentored the next Director, Jesse Saunders, who took over for her after her retirement.

Bernie Palmer (2016)

Edgar, frequently known as Bernie, was the director during the time the Academic Bowl competition expanded to five regions in 1997 beginning with 12 regional teams for 5 regions. He led the Academic Bowl team from 1997 to 2001 and during his time, the number of teams jumped from 12 participating teams to over 60. He facilitated the transition from the overhead projector to Powerpoint, ushering Academic Bowl into the electronic age! Bernie is a “behind-the-scenes” kind of person who has been very supportive of the Academic Bowl program over the years.

Astrid Amann Goodstein (2016)

Astrid is the reason the Academic Bowl exists today. Back in the mid-1990s at the National Association of the Deaf’s College Bowl competition, she had a Eureka! moment after seeing how the College Bowl between Gallaudet University, RIT, and CSUN promoted academic excellence. She decided to set up a Mid-Atlantic Academic Bowl competition for high school students with the assistance of Dave Frank in 1996, which was then expanded into a National competition along with five separate Regional competitions.

Robert Weinstock (2016)

Robert, “Bob,” is the only active member on the Academic Bowl Executive Committee who has served since the day the Academic Bowl was founded. He has a hand in every facet of the Academic Bowl, from competition format, rules and guidelines development and revisions, question format and development, and so forth. He has developed an estimated 150,000 questions and reviewed an estimated 300,000 questions over 20 years. He became the coach for Gallaudet University’s College Bowl team in 1998 and has had a hand in bringing home the Championship trophy six times. Nearly all of his College Bowl players are also Academic Bowl alumni.

Debra Siel Lawson (2017)

Deb led the National Academic Bowl program from 1999 to 2007. She did this while serving as director of Outreach Programs and Publications under the former Office of Enrollment Management. During Debra’s time as Academic Bowl director, the program grew exponentially. In particular, the national competition went from five teams to ten teams. Debra also ushered in the technological era by creating a question database, switching to an all-PowerPoint format from a hybrid of overhead transparencies and PowerPoint presentations, and purchasing new equipment such as lockout systems, scoreboards, and projection equipment. The match format changed twice. First, the “gamble” final round became a lightning round. Second, Rounds 1 and 2 went from two toss-up/bonus rounds to one toss-up/bonus round and one round in which each player answered an equal number of questions in sequence. Debra laid a strong foundation for the program to mature into today’s well-oiled, student-driven machine.

Ethan Sonnenstrahl (2019)

Ethan played on the Maryland School for the Deaf Academic Bowl team, becoming the first and currently the only player to have won four consecutive National Academic Bowl championships. He capped his fourth consecutive championship by also winning the prestigious Nationals Most Outstanding Player award. He currently holds the record for the best winning percentage by any Academic Bowl player with a 74-3 career record. He also played for the Gallaudet College Bowl team three times and won in his third and final attempt.

Dr. Robert Grindrod (2019)

Dr. Grindrod served as the coach of the John Hersey High School Academic Bowl team until he passed away. He was known for his passion and wanted nothing but to see his students succeed. He tirelessly spent many hours drilling his team and even developed a study guide that is now in use by teams all over the country. His teams regularly finished in the top two at the Midwest Regional competition. His teams won a total of four Regional competitions, one National competition, and finished in the top four at the National competition five times over his career. He coached countless All-Stars and Regional Most Outstanding Player winners. One of his players, David Uzzell, is another member of the Academic Bowl Hall of Fame and he credits Dr. Grindrod with all of his success. Dr. Grindrod will forever be remembered for his passion and for caring about his students outside of school.

Lauren Searls Curran (2020) 

Lauren was a member of the Monroe #1 BOCES Academic Bowl team. She is one of a very select few Academic Bowl players who won regional championships all four years of high school. At the national level, her teams had one third place finish and three fourth place finishes. It is widely believed that if the Regional Most Outstanding Player award had existed during her time, she would have earned it at least once. 

Timothy Woodford (2021)

Timothy Woodford played for the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind for four years, winning multiple regional championships and the national championship in 2002. A commanding presence on stage and off, Tim was the recipient of the very first Southeast Regional and national Most Outstanding Player awards in 2002. In many ways, he helped to set a standard for the MOP that endures today – a potent combination of intellect, collegiality, teamwork, and sportsmanship. It is no accident that FSDB has had 23 national competition appearances, behind just two schools with 24 each. In a sense, FSDB’s success all started with Tim. 

Franco Bippus (2026)

Franco was a four-year member of the Indiana School for the Deaf Academic Bowl team. Beginning in his freshman year in 2016, he earned Regional Most Outstanding Player honors for three consecutive years in the Midwest Regionals, culminating in 2018. He was also named National Most Outstanding Player in both 2017 and 2018, leading his team to back-to-back national championship titles. In addition, Franco won the inaugural individual competition in 2019. He graduated as one of the top AB players of all time. Franco worked in Gallaudet’s Youth Programs office as a student, and continues to serve as a member of the Academic Bowl Committee. He is also one of the head GUOs and a lead questions and PP developer.

Todd Bonheyo (2026)

Todd was a member of the Maryland School for the Deaf Academic Bowl team. He played a pivotal role in leading his team to national championships in 2010 and 2011, demonstrating exceptional skill, dedication, and competitive spirit. In 2010, he was also recognized as Regional Most Outstanding Player as a junior at the 2010 Mid-Atlantic Regional competition held at New Jersey School for the Deaf. As a senior, he was a National All-Star player. Todd was on the Gallaudet University College Bowl team in 2012 and 2014. 

Michelle Halvorsen (2026)

Michelle coached the Texas School for the Deaf Academic Bowl team for over 20 years. During her tenure, she guided TSD to multiple regional championships or second place finishes, and many national appearances, while mentoring players who have earned All-Star and Most Outstanding Player distinctions. Just as importantly, she mentored several individuals who became coaches at TSD and elsewhere. More than anyone else, Michelle is responsible for transforming Texas School for the Deaf into the program it is today, by taking a team that once struggled to advance past regionals and building it into a consistent national presence, year after year.

Brienna Herold (2026)

Brienna was a member of the Minnesota North Star Academic Bowl team, now known as Metro Deaf School. As a sophomore, she was recognized as the Regional Most Outstanding Player in 2008 along with Gabriel Paulone at Indiana School for the Deaf for the Midwest Regional competition. By her senior year, she was awarded as the Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player at Oklahoma School for the Deaf. as well as being named National Most Outstanding Player in 2010. Brienna was on the Gallaudet University College Bowl team in 2012. 

Yael Lenga (2026)

Yael was a member of the John Hersey High School Academic Bowl team. In her junior year, Yael was recognized as the Most Outstanding Player at the Midwest Regional held at Kansas School for the Deaf in 2019. She repeated this feat in 2020 as a senior at the Midwest Regional at Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf. She was a driving force behind her team’s national championship victory in 2019, and her exceptional skill and leadership earned her the honor of National Most Outstanding Player in both 2019 and 2020 – the first female player to receive two consecutive MOP awards.

Gabriel Paulone (2026)

Gabriel was a four-year member of the Indiana School for the Deaf Academic Bowl team. In 2008, as a junior, he was named Regional Most Outstanding Player along with Brienna Herold in the Midwest Regional at Indiana School for the Deaf, an honor he earned again in 2009 at Wisconsin School for the Deaf. In 2008, he helped lead his team to a national championship. He has coached the Indiana School for the Deaf team for the last seven years, and has led ISD to national appearances every year. This builds on the strong foundation left by his own coach, Academic Bowl Hall of Fame member Mary Kovatch. Gabriel was a member of the 2012, 2014, and 2016 Gallaudet University College Bowl teams.

Melissa Phair (2026)

Melissa has a 25-year love affair with the Academic Bowl. After earning her master’s degree at Gallaudet, she worked at the  Gallaudet University Regional Center, Northeast, with Academic Bowl Hall of Fame member Kathy Vesey. Her first competition was the Northeast Regional hosted by EDCO at Newton North High School. A then became a teacher at EDCO, and served as Academic Bowl coach for the first time in 2005. Under her leadership, EDCO became known for its culture of excellence. Her mentorship has helped countless students achieve personal and competitive success, including All-Star and Most Outstanding Player honors.

Shan Pillai (2026)

Shan was the long-time coach of the Carter G. Woodson High School Academic Bowl team. During his tenure, he guided his teams to multiple appearances at the national level, and mentored players who have earned All-Star distinctions. Several Woodson alumni subsequently earned doctoral and professional degrees, and all of them credit their Academic Bowl experience and Shan’s guidance for their success.

Octavian Robinson (2026)

Octavian was a member of the very first national championship team, California School for the Deaf at Riverside. He later coached the Maryland School for the Deaf team to the last of its four consecutive national championships between 2010 and 2013, becoming the first person to win national championships as a player and as a coach. Dr. Robinson also played on the Gallaudet College Bowl team twice and served as its assistant coach twice.

Patrick Rosenburg (2026)

As coach of the Maryland School for the Deaf Academic Bowl team, Patrick’s teams achieved an extraordinary milestone by winning three consecutive national championships from 2010 to 2012. This is testament to his vision, skill, and dedication. After he left, MSD won one more national championship under fellow Hall of Fame honoree Dr. Octavian Robinson, thanks to the foundation he had laid for them. Throughout his tenure, he has mentored players who earned All-Star and Most Outstanding Player honors, fostering both individual growth and team excellence. At Gallaudet, Patrick was on the 2002 College Bowl team. Patrick taught at the Heathlands School for the Deaf in St. Albans, England, and led a team that participated in an Academic Bowl Regional competition in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jesse Saunders (2026)

Jesse was a member of the California School for the Deaf, Fremont 1998 national championship team during the second-ever national competition. Beyond his playing career, he coached for five years at the New Mexico School for the Deaf, served as a question and PowerPoint developer for many years, and served as the Youth Programs Director from 2012 to 2023. He is now the head GUO and will likely remain involved with the Academic Bowl for many more years to come.

Lori Seago (2026)

Lori was a long-time coach for Edmonds-Woodway High School in the Seattle area. In 2006, as a first-year coach, Edmonds-Woodway entered their first Regional competition, into the Southeast Regional, when they could not compete in that year’s West Regional, and won the Southeast Regional championship. The following year, her coaching proved this was no fluke by winning the West as well. Throughout her term, she consistently guided Edmonds-Woodway High School to the national competition, coached players who earned All-Star and Most Outstanding Player recognitions, and shaped players who contributed back to the Academic Bowl, including Casey Johnson-Pasqua as the current Academic Bowl Coordinator. 

Pam Snedigar (2026)

Pam Snedigar was director of the Gallaudet University Regional Center-West, housed at Ohlone College in Fremont, California, for over two decades. In this role, she was an ardent advocate for and supporter of the Academic Bowl program. Ohlone itself hosted one regional competition, becoming the first and still the only West Region institution of higher education to do so. Pam coordinated Regional Academic Bowls throughout the West Region, the largest of the Gallaudet University Regional Center service areas, and in 2020, just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic closed down the world, she achieved her long-held dream of seeing a regional competition take place in Hawai’i. She was exceptionally adept at bringing in mainstream programs. Her statistical summaries at the West Region coaches’ meetings are the stuff of legend.

Jonathan Summers (2026)

Jonathan was a member of the Rockville High School Academic Bowl team. He was recognized as a Regional All-Star in 2015 as a freshman, Regional Most Outstanding Player in 2017 when Rockville High School hosted the East Regional, and once again as a senior at American School for the Deaf in 2018. He was recognized as a National All-Star in 2016 and 2018, and played a key role in leading Rockville High School to its first national championship in 2016. A 2024 graduate of Gallaudet University, where he was on the College Bowl team in 2022 and 2024, winning in 2022.

Hannah Worek (2026)

Hannah was a member of the Monroe #1 BOCES Academic Bowl team for four years. Her teams were known as the “Pink Ladies.” She earned Regional Most Outstanding Player honors in 2009 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional competition held at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf. Throughout her time at Monroe #1 BOCES, Hannah was recognized as the “glue” that kept her team together, supporting her teammates to become more engaged with players from other schools.