DAYTON, Ohio -- -- High Q, Dayton's only locally produced game show, will kick off its 17th season of academic competition on September 27th, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. on WHIO-TV.

On High Q, local high school teams answer academic questions and battle to take the grand prize: $4000 in college scholarship money, to be awarded to the players on the team that wins the 35-game tournament. The runner-up team will win $2000 to apply to their college educations.

WHIO-TV sports director Mike Hartsock returns as the primary host the 2009-2010 High Q season; this will be his 14th season behind the podium. Storm Center 7 meteorologist Rich Wirdzek will host some of this season’s games.

Over the past 16 seasons, WHIO has produced more than 500 episodes of High Q and awarded over $95,000 in college scholarship money to high school students in the Miami & Whitewater Valleys.

During the 2008-2009 season, Carroll High School claimed the High Q Championship title for the 2nd consecutive season, defeating the Miami Valley School. In addition to three-time champion Carroll (2003-2004, 2007-2008 & 2008-2009), the other schools that have won the High Q championship in the show's 16 year history have been three-time champion Tippecanoe (2006-2007, 2004-2005, and 1996-1997), two-time winner Miami Valley (1995-1996 & 2005-2006), Russia (2002-2003), three-time winner Beavercreek (2001-2002, 2000-2001, & 1998-1999), Celina (1999-2000), two-time champion Northmont (1997-1998 & 1993-1994), & Miamisburg (1994-1995). The Carroll Patriots will return to defend their title.

Of the 145 eligible high schools in the WHIO-TV viewing area, over 60 expressed interest in participating in High Q this year. Thirty-six of those schools were selected at random to participate in this season of High Q, which debuted in 1993. High schools from Allen, Auglaize, Butler, Clark, Clinton, Darke, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby, and Warren counties are a part of this year’s field.

Tune in every Sunday morning & follow the 2009-2010 season! Each episode of High Q can be seen at 8:30 a.m. Sunday on WHIO-TV.

WHIO-TV is owned by Cox Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., a leader in broadcasting, newspaper publishing, broadband communications/cable, interactive websites, and automobile auctions. Cox Broadcasting includes television stations, national TV sales representation firms, and a television production company. Cox Broadcasting is majority owner of publicly traded Cox Radio, Inc. (NYSE: CXR).