LCMS Students Put Knowledge to Test
At LaRue County Middle School, learning doesn’t stop when the bell rings—and sometimes, it happens at the speed of five seconds.
This fall, LCMS students participated once again in the Knowledge Masters competition, a long-running academic challenge sponsored by Hardin County Schools and HCEC-TV. The single-elimination tournament, held during the school day in late November and early December, brought together nine schools from LaRue, Hardin, Meade, and Nelson counties. Each match featured teams of eight to nine students competing in a fast-paced test of knowledge and teamwork.
LCMS Academic Team coach Doris Jean Holleran says the competition is about much more than memorization.
“The topics are vast,” Holleran said. “What students are showing comes from their life experiences—the books they’ve read, the music they’ve listened to, the places they’ve been. They study history, geography, science, math, arts and humanities, current events, and world leaders. It’s truly interdisciplinary.”
That interdisciplinary nature aligns closely with LCMS’s project-based learning (PBL) approach, which emphasizes applying knowledge across subjects rather than learning in isolation. Knowledge Masters challenges students to do exactly that—often under intense time pressure. Toss-up questions must be answered within five seconds, while bonus questions allow just ten.
“Speed is one of the hardest parts,” Holleran said. “Students have to think quickly, trust their instincts, and work together.”
Math plays a significant role in the competition, particularly through mental math questions that require rapid calculation. Reading is equally critical, as students rely on years of independent reading and curiosity-driven learning to answer questions spanning centuries, cultures, and continents.
As students prepare for high school and future careers, Holleran believes the skills developed through Academic Team participation have lasting value.
“In life, you often have to think on your feet,” she said. “You won’t always have time to look things up. This teaches students how to perform under pressure, how to collaborate, and how to communicate with people.”
Beyond academics, the experience encourages students to become lifelong learners.
“These students are self-motivated,” Holleran said. “It broadens their horizons and builds a foundation for learning that extends far beyond the classroom.”
At LCMS, that kind of learning isn’t confined to a textbook—or a buzzer. It’s active, connected, and preparing students for whatever questions come next.
