EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR : KEVIN SMITH 

                    TREASURER : KATHERINE THOMSON 

                    SECRETARY : SERENITY MILLER 

Welcome to The Philo Sophia Academic Association

At The Philo Sophia Academic Association, we are dedicated to promoting academic excellence through engaging academic competitions and skill-based games. Join us in our mission to nurture young minds and foster a love for learning. We are currently searching for Sponsors to help fund our pilot project named Project Vested Interest. This Project's objective is to provide financial and other incentives t students that attend school, actively participate in classroom curriculum, and demonstrate objective and measurable advancement in their grades each quarter of the school year (for detailed information regarding the Project refer to the title What is Project Vested Interest ?). Our Association is also seeking contributions from sponsors to help fund the following upcoming academic, talent, and skill-based contests we will be sponsoring.

UPCOMING EVENTS 

 

 

                 Type: ACADEMIC COMPETITION

                 Name : 2025 Battle of Young Scholars 

 

 

           THE 2025 BATTLE OF YOUNG SCHOLARS 

 

1) Registration Dates : August 1st , 2025 - August 30th , 2025 .

2) Registration Form : You may register your participation by any of the following ways :

  • Visiting the Student and Sponsor Portal on our Website (www.the -philo-sophia-academic-association.org .) and filling out the CONTESTANTS COMPETITIONS FORM.
  • Request a CONTESTANTS COMPETITIONS FORM at tpsaa747@gmail.com . Fill out the form and return it to us via email or postal mail; or,
  • You may request the CONTESTANTS COMPETITIONS FORM by mail, fill it out and return it to us via postal mail or email.

3) Contest Dates: September 1st, 2025 - September 30th, 2025.

4) Entry Fees: The following entry fees are final and not subject to change

 4th graders - $1.00

 5th graders- $2.00

 6th graders - $300

 7th graders - $4.00

 8th graders - $5.00

 9th graders - $6.00

 10th graders - $7.00

 11th graders - $8.00

 12th graders - $9.00

5) Prizes : 50 % of the total amount of entry fees and donations will be divided as follows : 1st Place - 20% ; 2nd Place - 15% ; 3rd Place - 10% ; and 4th Place - 5%.

6) Subject Matters Of Contest:

  • English 
  • Math
  • Social Studies 
  • Science 
  • History 
  • Spelling 

7) Elimination Process :

  • All contestants will be given a test sheet that contains five questions or problems from each of those subjects.
  • All tests will be formatted to the respective grade level of each participant.
  • Contestants will be divided into groups of 20 and compete against each other.
  • The four contestants with the highest test scores from each group will move to the next round where the contestants will be divided into groups of 10 and compete against each other.
  • The two contestants with the highest test scores from each group of 10 will move to the next round where they will be divided into groups of 5.
  • The contestant with the highest test score from each group of 5 will move to the final round where all remaining contestants will compete against each other. The final four contestants with the highest test scores will receive the 1st Place  - 4th Place prize money based on their tesst scores from highest to lowest, respectively.

8) All prize money will be in the form of certified or cashier's checks. 

9) No later than three days before they perform, all contestants will be notified of the date, time, and place of his or her performance.

10) Parental/Guardian Consent :

  • All contestants under age 16 shall obtain the consent of his or her parent/guardian to participate in all contests. This consent shall be indicated on the CONTESTANTS COMPETITIONS FORM and the parent/guardian shall provide the contact information requested for verification purposes.
  • During all contests, contestants13 and under must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or authorized adult, i.e., a person 18 or older  that the parent or guardian has certified  on the CONTESTANTS COMPETITIONS FORM to accompany a contestant. Proper ID will be required.
  • The parent or guardian shall be required to provide a copy of the contestant's report card to the Association within three days of the end of each quarter of the school year and said parent or guardian shall give the Association permission to verify said report card grades with school officials.

11) Resolution Of Disputes: All disputes shall be conveyed through our Contestants and Sponsors Portal on our website within 24 hours after the end of the disputed contest. All such disputes shall be resolved by a majority vote of the Association' s Executive Board within 24 hours of the date any dispute is filed. All decisions of the Executive Board are final. 

12) Conflict of Interest: All judges shall identify any contestant they know or is related to and refrain from voting in any contest that the contestant participates in.

 

 

 

               (STUDY)             (STUDY)                (STUDY)        

                             Type : TALENT CONTEST

             Name : The Baltimore City Talent Bonanza 

 

              THE BALTIMORE CITY TALENT BONANZA 

 

1) Registration Period :

  • August 1st, 2025 to August 30th, 2025.
  •  Request the CONTESTANTS COMPETITIONS FORM by postal mail or email using the Association' s contact information below, or visit our Website at www.the-philo-sophia-academic-association.org and register through the Students, Contestants, and Sponsors Portal.        

2) Age Groups and Entry  Fees : Contestants may compete in the following age groups:

  • 5 and under - $1.00
  • 10 and under - $2.00
  • 15 and under - $4.00
  • 18 and under - $8.00
  • 21 and under - $16.00
  • Unlimited - $20.00

3) Single, Duo, and Group Performances :

  • Contestants may perform alone or with one or more persons. Each contestant shall pay the required fee to participate in Duo or Group competitions.

4) Rap, Singing, Dancing, Playing Instruments, Comedy, And Any Other Type Of Talent :

  • When filling out the CONTESTANTS COMPETITIONS FORM indicate your performance type. If your do not see your type of performance on the form pick other and explain.

5) Live Zoom Performances :

  •  All performances shall be in the homes of the participants. Participants 18 or older may perform anywhere outside their homes. A parent or guardian shall determine whether a contestant 17 or younger may perform outside his or her home.
  • All contestants will perform on Zoom Meeting live.
  • All contestants 5 and under shall be allowed 2 minutes to perform; all contestants; all contestants 10 and under shall be allowed 3 minutes to perform;  all contestants 15 and under shall be allowed 4 minutes to perform ; and all contestants 18 and under, 21 and under, and unlimited shall be allowed 5 minutes to perform.

6) The Judging Panel: The judging panel shall consist of three members of the Association.

7) Point System and Criteria: Using a 1 - 10 point system, the judging panel shall  determine the amount of points a participant receives in each of the following categories:

(a) Creativity Of The Performance ;

(b) Originality Of The Performance ;

(c ) Demeanor During The Performance ;

(d) Audience Appeal During The Performance ;

                                   and

(e) Overall Performance.

8) The Four Finalists : The four participants with the highest scores will be awarded the first, second, third, and fourth place prize money based on their scores from highest to lowest, respectively.

9) Prizes : 50% of the total entry fees, and any associated donations, received by the Association shall be distributed as follows:

  • 1st Place: 30%
  • 2nd Place: 15%;
  • 3rd Place: 10%;  
  • 4th Place: 5%.

10) Administrative and Operational Costs : 40% of the total amount of proceeds will be retained by the Association for administrative and operational costs, and to fund projects associated with our educational and charitable purposes as set forth in our Articles of Association.

11) Form of Prizes; All prizes will be awarded in the form of a certified or cashier's check.

12) Non- Participant Admission Fees : $1.00 will be charged for all non-participants to join the event.

13) Disqualification  : Excepting an emergency, a participant will be automatically disqualified if :

  • any non- participant assists, or attempts to assist, a participant while performing, or performs with, or attempts to perform with a participant during his or her performance.
  • a participant fails to follow rules or instructions.
  • a participant or spectator located at the site of the contestant's home or other site disrupts the performance.
  • a contestant shares his or her Link or Meeting ID with anyone,

14) Links and Meeting ID :

  • One hour before performing, a contestant will receive either a Link or a Meeting ID to join the contest. You are prohibited from sharing the Link or Meeting ID with anyone.
  • A half hour before the start of the contests, all  spectators will receive a Link or a Meeting ID to join the contests. Any spectator discovered sharing his or her Link or Meeting ID will be removed from the contest.

15) Conflict of Interest: All judges shall identify any contestant they know or is related to and refrain from voting in any contest that the contestant participates in.

 

 

                       *** LET'S HAVE SOME FUN ***

                           

 

                           Type : VIDEO GAME COMPETITION

                            Name : Madden 25 

   

                              Type : Video Competition

                  Name: MADDEN NFL 25 TOURNAMENT 

           MADDEN 25 NFL SUMMER TOURNAMENT 

1) Registration Period : August 1st 2025 to August 31st 2025.

2) Contest Dates : September 1st 2025 through September 30th 2025.

3) Where :

4) Times :

5) Eligibility : All contestants shall be 10 years old or older.

6) Contest Rules : Contest rules are as follows:

  • Contestants shall be grouped into groups of 20 in the first round and the four finalists shall move to the second round.
  • Contestants in the second round shall be grouped into groups of 10 and the two finalists shall move to the third round.
  • Contestants in the third round will be grouped into groups of 6 until one finalist remains and he or she shall move on to the last and final round until four finalists remain.
  • In the last and final round, the overall winner and his or her opponent shall receive the 1st place and 2nd place prizes, respectively. The third and fourth place finishers shall be determined based on their last scores in the contest. The 3rd place prize shall be awarded to the one who had the highest score and the 4th place prize shall be awarded to the remaining contestant.
  • Madden 25 Rules apply.

7) Parents and Guardians : Contestants 15 and under shall be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Parents and guardians must also give their consent for the contestant to compete.

8) Prizes : 60% of the total amount of entry fees and related donations will be awarded as prize money and be awarded as follows:

  1. 30% - 1st Place 
  2. 15% - 2nd Place 
  3. 10% - 3rd Place 
  4. 5% - 4th Place 

9) Checks : All winners will receive certified or cashier's checks in the amount of the prize money won.

10) Association's Costs and Program Funding: 40% of the proceeds will be retained by the Association for administrative and operational costs and to fund programs associated with our educational and charitable purposes as set forth in our Association's Articles of Association.

11) Judges: All winners of each round will be declared by supervising judges.

12) Resolution Of Disputes: All disputes must be reported to the supervising judge who shall attempt to resolve it. In the event that the  supervising judge does not resolve the dispute, the supervising judge shall submit the dispute to the Association's Executive Board and the board shall resolve it by majority vote.

13) Conflict of Interest: All judges shall identify any contestant they know or is related to and refrain from voting in any contest that the contestant participates in.

 

 

 

What is Project Vested Interest?

                    Project Vested Interest is a pilot program sponsored by our Association that guarantees money and/ or merchandise to those students that attend school, actively participate in classroom curriculum, and demonstrate objective and measurable advancement in their grades each of the four quarters of the school year. Sponsors will pledge money and/ or merchandise to the Association in the names of students they sponsor for participation in the Project. All donations will be divided as follows: 50% will be held as a guaranteed prize to each student that meets the criteria described above; 10% will be used as bonus prizes for those students that have advanced the most grades; and 40% will be retained by the Association for administrative and operational costs; funding of the  Academic, Talent and Skill - based competitions; and the funding of current and future projects.                                                                            Students quarterly report cards grades will be compared to the previous quarter' s report card to determine if the student has advanced one or more grades in one or more of the subjects of English, Math, Social Studies, or Science. Thus, the first quarter report card grades of the 2025 school year will be compared to the 2024 fourth quarter report card grade. The 2025 second quarter grades to the 2025 first quarter grades. The 2025 third quarter to the second quarter, and 2025 fourth quarter to the third quarter. Attendance and active participation in classroom curriculum will be measured through report cards and/or teachers.                                                                                            All students that demonstrate objective progress in their grades will receive 50% of the quarterly funds that his or her Sponsors pledged on their behalf. 10% of the total amount of donations received from Sponsors of the Project will be a bonus prize divided among the top 25 students at each grade level from 1st - 12th. 3rd grade and under students will receive prizes by showing objective progress in any subject being taught if English, Math, Social Studies, or Science is not a part of their classroom curriculum.                                                                                                                                             Cashier's Checks will be the form of payment of prize money and merchandise will be given directly to the winners. The parents/guardians/authorized adults will receive the checks on behalf of those participants 15 and under. All disputes regarding a student's grades will be resolved by verifying said grades through official school records ( consent to do so shall be given by the parent/guardian/authorized adult of any students involved in any such disputes.                                                                                                                                              You may request the Project Vested Interest Sponsor Form via telephone, email, in person, or postal mail by using the Association' s contact information set fourth below. You may also request the form through the Participants and Sponsors Registration Form portal.

What types of skill-based games do you organize?

We organize a variety of skill based competitions including board games, video game tournaments, and strategy-based challenges.

Are there age restrictions for participating in your competitions?

Our academic competitions are open to participants in grades 4-12. Talent contests are open to participants 3 years old and over. Madden 25, 24, and 23 are open to participants 10 years old and over.

Are there rules for each contest?

Yes. The rules governing each contest are set forth on our website, which you are free to copy or download. You may also request the relevant rules via the Association' s contact information.

Project Vested Interest

                               THE PHILO SOPHIA

                          ACADEMIC ASSOCIATION 

                             Project Vested Interest 

 

Contact us

Get in touch with us to learn more about our upcoming events and how you can participate in our academic contests and gaming events. You may reach us in person or postal mail service at 3436 Auchentolory Terrace 1A, Baltimore, MD 21217. or via telephone at 443-842-9786, email at tpsaa747@gmail.com, or our website.                                                              

CONTESTANTS AND SPONSORS REGISTRATION FORM   (please indicate whether you are a participant or sponsor, or both. If a sponsor, please indicate the donation amount you are pledging. All pledged donations shall be sent to the Association within 5 days of registering).

The Philo Sophia Academic Association is a Maryland registered 501 (c ) (3) Educational and Charitable Nonprofit Association. Donations are tax deductible and the Association will provide an Acknowledgement of Donation Form to all donors.                                                                                                                                                                                              DISCLOSURE STATEMENT                                                                                                                                     You may request a copy of the Association' s current financial statement via our contact information below. For the costs of copying and mailing you may request copies of all documents and information submitted by the Association  under the provisions of the Maryland Solicitations Act from the Office of the Maryland Secretary of State at 16 Francis Street #1, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.

                                   DIRECTIONS 

About us

The Philo Sophia Academic Association is a nonprofit organization based in Baltimore, Maryland, dedicated to promoting academic excellence through engaging competitions and skill-based games. Our mission is to inspire and challenge participants of all ages to explore new horizons and expand their knowledge.