Lawmakers join Porter in honoring Indiana School for the Deaf Academic Bowl Team

INDIANAPOLIS – Members of the General Assembly joined State Representative Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) in honoring the Indiana School for the Deaf Academic Bowl team for winning its fourth Gallaudet National Academic Bowl championship.

The team has been coached by Mary Kovatch and Chuck Daube for 19 years. Sophomore Franco Bippus was named the competition’s most outstanding player.

The team also includes seniors Rynata Fonseca and Isabella Paulone and junior Kate Lorenzo. Each member of the team also won a $3,000 scholarship to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., as a result of their championship win.

Gallaudet established the Academic Bowl in 1996 for deaf and hard of hearing high school students to foster the growth of academic excellence as well as promote a healthy spirit of academic competition, teamwork, and sportsmanship. They also strive to provide students with social opportunities for networking and lifelong friendships.

“I’ve had the honor of serving the Indiana School for the Deaf community in some capacity during my tenure in the Indiana House,” said Porter. “I also have authored legislation concerning American Sign Language, so I feel blessed to have been involved with the community for many years.

“I am proud to present the Indiana School for the Deaf Academic Bowl teammates with this resolution,” said Porter. “Their hard work and dedication has driven them to achieve great levels of success not often seen. They should be very proud of themselves. I also believe that the bilingual, bicultural philosophy of the School for the Deaf helped propel this talented team to the national championship.”