Academic Games Leagues of America

The Ding-a-Ling Award was given for many years to "the player or coordinator who inadvertantly exhibited the silliest, most inexplicable, most inane behavior" at nationals (called the "Academic Olympics" then) without causing physical harm or damage. It was given and received in fun.

The 1984 winner at Rock Eagle GA was Susan Iannuzzi of Mount Lebanon (PA). "One of the best ideas she had at the Olympics was to shower in her clothes to keep the bugs off."

Lee Vaccaro played academic games in Palm Beach County FL. He has founded successful businesses.

Here is his speech at the opening ceremony of the 2011 AGLOA Nationals in Kissimmee FL.

It's amazing to think that I was sitting where you are, 21 years ago. All the emotions and memories instantly come back to me ... what incredible offsite excursion trip we were going to take, the thrill of waiting to see the scores posted on the walls, and if I was really going to be subjected to eating the hockey pucks yet again in the cafeteria at Rock Eagle. Like me, the memories created at Nationals will stay with you for a lifetime. The bonds that are created with your classmates and teachers from other states will also be with you forever.

In all honesty, Academic Games has taught and given me most of the necessary life lessons that I've needed to succeed later in life. Being taught to be an independent thinker at such a young age created the entrepreneur that I am today. What most people don't know about me, however, is that Academic Games was my rock during my middle and high school years. My parents got divorced when I started playing the games in 7th grade, and back then, divorce was a relatively new thing. Needless to say, my dad was on his third marriage by the time I arrived at my senior year. The impact of that, and coping with a mother who was suffering from mental illness, brought havoc to my academic grades during my later high school years. However, I continually found refuge and solace with my involvement in Academic Games. My teachers became my guiding lights over the years ... angels sent down from heaven above to look after me. And if it weren't for Mrs. Nancy Kinard, I would not have graduated high school in my senior year as I missed too many days of school by cutting class. I actually graduated a couple weeks later than my class in a private ceremony held at the local county office. I thank God and the Academic Games program for creating the man that I am today.

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About 1,000 Academic Games players, coaches, and parents visited Kissimmee FL April 29-May 2, 2011, to challenge each other at the Academic Games National Tournament. Folks zoomed in from Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Florida, and Taiwan to enjoy a fun-filled, challenging four-day experience. Visitors came from Virginia, California, and Colorado to enjoy and learn. They faced extreme competition from one another and also enjoyed many life-changing experiences. Groups enjoyed many side trips in the area.

Major highlights of the Tournament were visits from several former National champions, including some of the Hall of Fame teammates from the early 1970’s. The alumni presence was inspiring to the current players and coaches.