A community fundraiser will be held on March 28, 7–10 p.m. at the Palmer Opera House to support Jakobe Swift, an eighth‑grader at Cuba‑Rushford Middle School, as he prepares for the International Academic Competitions (IAC) History Bee National Championship in Orlando, Florida, this May.
The evening will feature live music, with Zoar headlining the event and opening act Dave Chamberlain. All proceeds will go toward covering Jakobe’s travel and competition expenses.
The International Academic Competitions (IAC) is a global organization that offers students the chance to compete in engaging academic tournaments across history, geography, science, and related fields. Founded in 2010 by David Madden—a 19‑day champion on the quiz show Jeopardy!, the program began as a single tournament in the New York metropolitan area and has since expanded to reach students in more than 50 countries each school year.
Jakobe has qualified for the national championships for the fourth consecutive year. On December 14, he placed first in an online regional tournament, securing his latest qualification.
Last summer, Jakobe also competed in the International History Olympiad, held July 20–26, 2025, in Paris, France. Among 126 middle‑school competitors, he finished 40th overall and placed 26th on the Battery Exam, a comprehensive placement test. His History Bowl team advanced to the playoffs and narrowly missed the finals.
This article is a community submission from Jerome Swift. It has been rewritten and edited for publication. The views expressed in this submission are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishing outlet.
