Hosted by: Chapman University
Organized by: Academic WorldQuest Committee, World Affairs Council of Orange County
Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
Location: Sandhu Conference Hall, Chapman University, Orange, CA
Time: 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM
The Academic WorldQuest 2025 competition brought together some of Orange County’s brightest high school minds for an inspiring day of academic rigor, teamwork, and global awareness. Held on the beautiful campus of Chapman University, this year’s competition served as the local qualifying round for the nationally recognized Academic WorldQuest, hosted by the World Affairs Councils of America in Washington, D.C.
About the Program
Academic WorldQuest is a flagship youth education initiative that promotes global literacy among high school students. Participating teams study an official set of global topics—ranging from international diplomacy to cybersecurity to global health—and test their knowledge in a competitive, quiz-style format. The program is designed to sharpen critical thinking skills, foster international awareness, and inspire civic engagement among the next generation of leaders.
Highlights from the 2025 Orange County Competition
- Top Honors:
A huge congratulations to Irvine High School’s winning team—Ishaan Gaikwad, Aashay Mody, Suresh Swaroop, and Ryan Lee—who clinched first place and earned an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to represent Orange County at the national Academic WorldQuest championship. Their stellar performance and teamwork set a high bar for excellence. - Scholarly Competition:
Teams from across Orange County gathered at Chapman’s Sandhu Conference Hall to tackle challenging questions across categories such as U.S. foreign policy, international economics, global geography, and more. Students brought impressive focus, poise, and camaraderie to each round. - Inspiration and Impact:
The competition not only recognized high academic achievement but also provided students with a meaningful opportunity to engage with real-world issues and develop a deeper understanding of the global landscape. Many students cited the event as transformative—encouraging them to pursue studies and careers in international relations, diplomacy, economics, and public service.
Support the Future of Global Education
The World Affairs Council of Orange County is proud to fund the travel and lodging expenses for our winning team to attend the national competition in D.C., and we rely on the generosity of donors and sponsors to make this experience possible each year.
If you would like to contribute to this life-changing educational initiative, please visit our website to donate or contact our office for sponsorship opportunities.
🔗 Make a Donation
📩 For inquiries: orangecounty@worldaffairscouncil.org
Get Involved in 2026
If you are a high school educator or administrator and would like to pledge your school to participate in next year’s competition, please submit our official Pledge Form or contact us directly.
Let’s continue building the next generation of globally minded citizens—one brilliant student at a time.
