History

Gallaudet University college bowl team smiling with the trophy. From L to R: Trevor, Donovan, Thalia, Jonathan, Bob, and Meredith.

The Beginning

The College Bowl was the brainchild of Herb Larson, known as the “Johnny Carson” of the deaf and hard of hearing community – an allusion to his years as host of the Emmy-winning local television talk show, “Off Hand.” Larson felt that the deaf and hard of hearing community needed to acknowledge the outstanding mental abilities of their students in academic institutions. His hard work paid off and the College Bowl kicked off at the 1988 NAD Convention in Charleston, South Carolina.

The development of the first National College Bowl competition was certainly no small task! Larson, who represented CSUN, obtained the support of Astrid Goodstein at Gallaudet and Tom Holcomb at NTID/RIT as College Bowl representatives for their schools. They spent hours on the phone and in several meetings together to draw up the guidelines, establish the roles of the game, select the topics, write the questions, prepare the judges, purchase the trophy, and assist with the room preparations and ticket sales. Thanks to the efforts of the original three representatives, the College Bowl has since then blossomed and now attracts droves of NAD Conference participants.

The First Competition

The Gallaudet team consisted of the student leaders of the Deaf President Now (DPN) protest: Greg Hlibok, Bridgetta Bourne, and Tim Rarus (replaced by Roger Kraft prior to the competition). The NTID/RIT team had Marcie Stern, Paul Skurda, and Steve Vicker. The CSUN team had Lisa Herberger, Josh Mendelsohn, and Mark Sommer.


When Larson, the emcee for the first competition, showed the first question, he suddenly struggled to stifle his surprise when he saw that it asked, “Who is the Johnny Carson of the deaf community?”
All three colleges correctly answered, “Herb Larson!”


The first College Bowl was such a success at the NAD Conference that many had to be turned away at the door! After a loud and exciting contest, CSUN emerged victorious, NTID/RIT second, and Gallaudet third.

Past College Bowl Contestants

*College Bowl Champion

2022, Orlando

Gallaudet*: Thalia Guettler, Donovan Holmes, Trevor Johnson, Jonathan Summers

NTID: Rose Crisman, Ryker D’Angelo, Tyler Glennon, Bryan Lukehart-Yun

U. Minnesota: Katie Anderson, Miaya Herbst, Kyle Johnson-Bee

2018, Hartford

CSUN: Darcy Arzate, Sarah Clifton, Grace Janney, Garrett Nichols

Gallaudet*: Jason Antal, Lydia Kopp, Nikolya Sereda, Ethan M Sonnenstrahl

Lamar U.: Francisco Leija, Dylan Lutes, Sidney Onwuharonye, Vanessa Perry-Tease

NTID: Eric Epstein, Linzie Fuechtmann, Emmanuel Perrodin-Njoku, Grace Yukawa

U. Minnesota: Zakaria Einab, Autumn Moder, Amanda Jo Temple, Andrew Weber

2016, Phoenix

CSUN: Tyler Pugeda, Hadel Somo, Chase Toy, Jessica Vercelli

Gallaudet: Jason Miles Antal, Jehanne Celeste McCullough, Gabriel Joseph Paulone, Ethan M Sonnenstrahl

NTID*: Lauren Berger, Eric Epstein, Asher Kirschbaum, Emmanuel Perrodn-Njoku

U. Minnesota: Maggie Bangert, Hennah McCoy, Kyle Johnson, Amanda Jo Temple

2014, Atlanta

CSUN: Moises Jaramillo, Tyler Pugeda, Chase Toy, Joshua Tozeski, Jessica Vercelli

Gallaudet: Larwan Berke, Margaret Kopp, Camac Kyre, Ethan Sonnenstrahl

NTID*: Lauren Berger, Eric Epstein, Linzie Fuechtmann, Asher Kirschbaum

SWCID: Aaron Diaz, Wesley Diaz, Brandon Ray, Wesley Soto

U. Minnesota: Maggie Bangert, Kyle Johnson, Johanna Lucht, John Wilson

U. Texas: Dudley Baker, Christy Hediger, Jordan Nussbaum, Lisa Ozuna

2012, Louisville

CSUN: Moses Jaramillo, Brandon Marin, Emily Schwartz, Joshua Tozeski

Gallaudet: Todd Bonheyo, Brienna Herold, Gabriel Paulone, Allison Weiner

NTID*: Ethan Berger, Jordan Burgener, Tyler Kindrod, Taylor Yukawa

SWCID: Musab Al-Smadi, Marcela Baca, Jesus Barrera, Allen Hearhoof, Chris Warmack

U. Minnesota: Justin Barlow, T’Jay Middlebrook, Shawn Vriezen, John Wilson

U. Texas: Duggan Baker, Lisa Guerra, Christy Hediger, Jordan Nussbaum

2010, Philadelphia

CSUN: Darren Hause, Brandon Marin, Joshua Soudakoff, Emily Schwartz

Gallaudet*: Meredith Peruzzi, Gabriel Paulone, David Uzzell, Allison Weiner, Colin Whited

NTID: Gianni Manganelli, Colin Pearson, Hannah Worek, Jordan Burgener, Cory Behm

2008, New Orleans

CSUN: Darren Hause, Josh Josa, Jairon Popal, Michael Sidansky

Gallaudet*: Tyler DeShaw, Meredith Peruzzi, Jonathan Paul Chanin, David Uzzell

NTID: Josh Allmann, Aaron Delbruegge, Geo Kartheiser, Randall Kidd, Jr.

2006, Palm Desert

CSUN: Darren Hause, Josh Josa, Michael Sidansky, Scott Vinegar

Gallaudet*: Jonathan Paul Chanin, Pia Marie Paulone, Andrew Phillips, Drew Robarge

NTID: Josh Allmann, Aaron Delbruegge, Randal Kidd, Jr., Lane Lucht

2004, Kansas City

CSUN: Kerry Nicole Bobeczko, Matthew Guarino, Jared Patton, Julia Velasquez

Gallaudet*: Jonathan Paul Chanin, Pia Maria Paulone, Andrew Phillips, Drew Robarge

NTID: Geo Kartheiser, Donald Slate, David Spiecker, John-Michael Stern

2002, Washington, DC

CSUN: Kevin Bohlin, Mela Bennett, Kyle Houston, Keith Nolan

Gallaudet: Jonathan Henner, Christopher Kaftan, Sara Robinson, Patrick Rosenberg

NTID*: Andrew Phillips, Pamela Siebert, Sara Stallard, Adam Stone

2000, Norfolk

CSUN: Cindy Bronson, Kyle Houston, Erika Leger, Dennis Selznick

Gallaudet*: Jason Lamberton, Allison Polk, Sara Robinson, Christian Wojnar

NTID: William Huber, Daniel Millikin, Pamela Siebert, Paul Thompson

1998, San Antonio

CSUN: Kyle Houston, Erick Posner, Lauren Teruel, Steven Wright

Gallaudet*: Terry Giansanti, D.J. Kurs, Jonathan Lamberton, Christian Wojnar

NTID: Kevin Bernadt, Katherine Hoheusle, J.M. Kramlinger, Paul Thompson

1996, Portland

CSUN: Lauren Abbott, Cindy Bronson, Kimberly Nungesser, Amy Wong

Gallaudet: D.J. Kurs, Jonathan Lamberton, Rob Voreck, Myra Yanke

NTID*: Edward Bart, Katherine Hoheusle, Gregory Munro, Timothy Stewart

1994, Knoxville

CSUN: Michael Barrett, Jeff Pavkovich, Kevin Saunders, Trent Wade

Gallaudet: Dave Evans, Neil McDevitt, Todd McIntosh, Joe Murray

NTID*: Alok Kanu Doshi, Jamie Munro, Robert Rice, David John Tai

1992, Denver

CSUN: James Bronson, Jeff Pavkovich, Eric Scheir

Gallaudet*: Kelby Brick, Gino Gouby, John Moore, Barry Solomon

NTID: Alok Kanu Doshi, Lea Moynihan, Robert Rice, David John Tai

1990, Indianapolis

CSUN: Josh Mendelsohn, Mark Sommer, John Underwood

Gallaudet*: Emily Alexander, Holly Elkins, Christopher Shea

NTID: Marcie Stern, Paul Skurda, Steve Vicker

1988, Charleston

CSUN*: Lisa Herberger, Josh Mendelsohn, Mark Sommer

Gallaudet: Greg Hlibok, Bridgetta Bourne, Roger Kraft

NTID: Marcie Stern, Paul Skurda, Steve Vicker