PETER SAMUELSON

1. What years did you quiz?
   1980-81 through 1985-86
2. Where and for what church did you quiz?
   2 years for McPherson, then 2 years for Winona Lake, then 2 years for McPherson
3. What were the highlights of your quizzing years?
   I have many wonderful memories of quizzing. I'm very competitive, so the competition was certainly fun - and the winning was enjoyable. Much longer-lasting were the friendships I made with fellow quizzers across the US - many of whom I kept in close touch with for years afterwards. I had some great teammates - and many good memories of quizzing with them - including my teammates Dan Koehn (who memorized the material more thoroughly than anyone else I ever knew), with whom I quizzed for McPherson; one of my college roommates, Kevin Kwilinski, who quizzed for Winona Lake, and his wife Amy (Starr) Kwilinski, who quizzed for Kalamazoo, and Bryan & Wes Blankenship and Kurt Gerrild, all of whom quizzed for McPherson; and Rick Gensch, who quizzed for Winona Lake (who was the fastest and best jumper I ever quizzed with or against). I'm sure I'm forgetting some others that I should name. And we had great coaches who not only taught us to win, but also modeled Christ and service in their lives - including Cathi Blankenship, Les Rice and Greg Gossell.
4. Did you or your team win any championships? If so, what and when?
   
   • 4th in young teen team at IYC estes park 1981; 2nd in young teen individuals (to Rick Gensch)
   • 1st in young teen veteran team in 1982; 2nd in young teen individuals (to Emily Pickerel )
   • 2nd in senior teen veteran team in 1983 (to mary helen brown and dan sewell); 1st in young teen individuals
   • 1st in senior teen veteran team in 1984; 1st in senior teen individuals
   • 1st in senior teen veteran team in 1985 at IYC estes park; 2nd in senior teen individuals (to jim egyud, Pennsylvania)
   • 1st in senior teen veteran team in 1986 at central; 1st in senior teen individuals.
5. What was your favorite scripture? Why?
   That has changed over the years. Currently, it is Romans 12:2: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing, and perfect will."
6. How did quizzing affect you as a teen?
   It was my primary extracurricular activity. I devoted lots of time each week to studying and practice - and looked forward to the tournaments. I'm sure I made more, closer friends through quizzing (and church, generally) than I did at school, where I don't recall being that involved outside of classes.
7. What difference has quizzing made in your life to this day?
   It has had a very significant and long-lasting impact on my faith and spiritual life. And it is where I developed some of my longest lasting friendships.
8. Are you presently involved in Bible quizzing in any way or have you since you were a quizzer? If so, how?
   Not any more. I coached, quizmastered and wrote question sets for several years after high school.
9. What ministries are you currently doing? How are you presently active in serving the Lord?
   Primarily through my work as President of Americans United for Life. We are a non-profit, pro-life law firm, working to restore legal protections for the sanctity of human life.