RUMFORD – Buzzers buzzed, bells rang and crowds laughed. A game show was going on in Room 306 at Mountain Valley High School on Friday morning.
It wasn’t “Jeopardy” or “Wheel of Fortune.”
It was “Stump Um,” a new way the Pulp and Paperworkers Resource Council is bringing its message about forestry and forestry practices to high school students.
The game show format was popular with Pam Rousseau’s physics class as host Scott Grassette asked questions and Mike Papsadora read the right answers whenever someone answered wrong. Both work at NewPage Corp.
Helping with sound effects and recording student answers were mill employees Chris Dickson and Fran Dragoon.
Grassette said people have lots of misconceptions about forestry and the paper industry. That’s why they go into the classroom. The resource council presents a puppet show for young pupils and had been looking for a more appropriate way to get its message across for teens.
A game show seemed to be the right thing.
Chris Brennick, representing evergreens, hopped on the buzzer whenever he knew an answer.
What percent of Maine is covered with forests?
Buzz, 90 percent, said Brennick.
What’s Maine’s ranking in paper production? Buzz, third, said Zach Grassette.
It’s second, said Papsadora. Wisconsin took over the lead in 1960.
Fellow students clapped and urged the four contestants on, then they took part in a speedy “chain saw” round where each student had to come up with paper uses.
Rousseau said every science class at the high school will eventually take part in “Stump Um” before the end of the school year.
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