Indiana School for the Deaf team:
Left to Right (Top Row): Coach Chuck Daube, Rynata Fonseca, Coach Mary Kovatch
Left to Right (Bottom Row): Isabella Paulone , Franco Bippus, Kate Lorenzo. Photo courtesy ISD
The Indiana School for the Deaf’s (ISD) Academic Bowl Team won the 2017 Gallaudet National Academic Bowl, April 3. The team is comprised of Rynata Fonseca (Senior), Isabella Paulone (Senior), Kate Lorenzo (Junior), and Franco Bippus (Sophomore). Mary Kovatch and Chuck Daube have been the ISD Academic Bowl coaches for 19 years. In addition to winning the national championship, Franco Bippus was named the competition’s Most Outstanding Player.
Gallaudet University also awarded each of the four members of the championship team with $3,000 scholarships to be used when they enroll in Gallaudet University. This tradition started last year when Gallaudet announced that the champions would receive $3,000 scholarships and runners-up $1,000 scholarships.
The parents of the national champs (standing) salute the team coaches and their children (seated) at an April 4 awards ceremony honoring the Academic Bowl team for its fourth national championship. The coaches and team members are signing “ I love you” and “thank you” in American Sign Language in response. (l to r- Standing Parents) Mike Paulone, Teri Paulone, Joan Bippus, Ray Fonseca, Nanette Foncesa, (Middle) Principal Andy Alka (l to r- Seated Academic Bowl team) Coach Chuck Daube, Coach Mary Kovatch, Kate Lorenzo, Rynata Fonscea, Isabella Palone, Franco Bippus. Photo courtesy of ISD.
