[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 16 (Friday, January 23, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E71]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON OF AS SCHOOLS MATCH WITS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 23, 2026

  Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate a 
remarkable milestone in western Massachusetts broadcasting and 
educational history: the 65th anniversary season of As Schools Match 
Wits, an award-winning high school academic quiz show produced by New 
England Public Media and Westfield State University. To the best of our 
knowledge, As Schools Match Wits, known affectionately throughout the 
region as ASMW, is the longest-running, continually broadcast 
television program in Massachusetts, and quite possibly in all of New 
England.
  Founded in 1961 by Leonard J. Collamore and first aired on WWLP-TV, 
ASMW quickly became a treasured institution in western Massachusetts. 
For 46 seasons, it provided a platform for students to showcase their 
academic talents and brought communities together around a shared 
celebration of learning. When rising production costs threatened the 
program's future in 2006, the people of western Massachusetts made 
their voices heard. Their outpouring of support inspired Russell 
Peotter of WGBY-TV and Dr. Elizabeth Preston of Westfield State 
University to join forces and save the show, ensuring that this beloved 
tradition would continue for future generations.
  In an extraordinary collaborative effort, WGBY and the Westfield 
State University Department of Communication assembled a dedicated team 
of producers, faculty, and technical staff who worked tirelessly to 
rebuild the set, reconnect with participating schools, develop new 
production schedules, and train students. Their commitment ensured that 
the program never missed a season. Since 2007, ASMW has aired every 
Saturday evening from January through June on NEPM/WGBY-TV, welcoming 
schools from across western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut 
to compete in a spirited test of academic excellence.
  What sets ASMW apart is its deep educational mission. The questions 
are aligned with Massachusetts and Connecticut high school curriculum 
standards and vetted by Westfield State University faculty. 
Undergraduate students from the University's Department of 
Communication serve as the production crew, gaining invaluable hands-on 
experience in broadcast television under the guidance of seasoned 
professionals. Many of these students have gone on to successful 
careers in media, working at major outlets including the NFL Network, 
NBC Boston, WBZ-TV, CBS News Texas, the Dan Patrick Show, and WGGB-TV.
  At the heart of ASMW's longevity is a core group of dedicated 
professionals who have shepherded the program for nearly two decades. 
Executive Producers Mark St. Jean of Westfield State University and 
Tony Dunne of NEPM/WGBY have been with the show since its transition in 
2006, as has Director Eric Jones, who began working on the program as a 
freshman at WSU and now returns each year despite his national-level 
career. Host Beth Ward, an award-winning journalist, has brought her 
talent and warmth to the program since 2009. Production Manager Alex 
Simisky, a former student crew member himself, now oversees the 
University's TV studios and ensures the smooth operation of each 
season.
  Despite the evolution of media and the challenges facing traditional 
broadcast television, ASMW remains a beloved and enduring institution. 
It is now a generational program, with parents and grandparents proudly 
watching their children and grandchildren compete on the same stage 
where they once stood. Each year, the championship match becomes a 
regional event, covered by local media and celebrated in communities 
across western Massachusetts.
  Mr. Speaker, As Schools Match Wits is more than a television show. It 
is a celebration of learning, a training ground for future media 
professionals, and a cherished tradition that has strengthened the 
fabric of western Massachusetts for more than six decades. I extend my 
deepest congratulations to New England Public Media, Westfield State 
University, and the countless educators, students, producers, and 
supporters who have sustained this remarkable program. May ASMW 
continue to inspire and uplift students for many years to come.

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