In an institution blessed with more than its fair share of really, really clever people, it takes a certain type of person willing to put those smarts to the challenge at the Second Annual Fox Chase Cancer Center Employee Trivia Contest, which was held at noon on Monday, March 31, 2025. [held earlier this year.]
Thirteen eager, often rambunctious trivia experts filled Conference Room C, with an additional 35 individual players or teams joining the event online from offices across the cancer center and network campuses. Of course, those who braved the contest in person also benefitted by the generous supply of soft pretzels, fruit, and gourmet cheeses at hand.
At stake were bragging rights, a modicum of personal dignity, and a $50 Target gift card awarded to each winner of the four rounds of trivia action. These winners would then be eligible to compete in the fifth and final round for the Grand Prize: a remarkable LED desk lamp that declared its possessor a “BRAINIAC,” complete with a glowing outline of a human brain.
The event was the brainchild of the Fox Chase CHEER – Cultivating High Engagement and Employee Recognition – Committee and developed by Brianna Amato, science program recruitment administrator in the Office of Academic Affairs, and David Arney, a business manager in Hospital Operations. While Amato handled logistics and event preparation, Arney provided the technical expertise for the Kahoot! online game platform that drove the event. Together, the pair gathered the trivia for the event and wrote the questions.
“I think everyone who attended had a great time and learned some fun new facts about Fox Chase, Philadelphia, and the world around us,” said Amato. “I saw lots of smiles and laughs, which is always a key sign of success!”
As technical lead, Arney also brought in and set up the impressive-looking microphone kit for the event’s hosts: Joel Helmke, MSHP, FACHE, Fox Chase Chief Operating Officer and color commentary expert, and Amanda Purdy, PhD, Associate Chief Academic Officer, Co-Chair of the CHEER Committee, and professional trivia host.
A Game of Fast Minds and Quick Fingers
While many trivia enthusiasts might be able to acquit themselves well in a group at the local pub for Quizzo – or even follow along through to “Final Jeopardy” each night on TV – few can truly master a Kahoots! trivia match.
Kahoots! is an online platform originally developed as a playful means of supplemental learning for school kids but became quickly adaptable for corporate and trivia use. For each question, players use their phone to select the correct answer from one of four choices.
At Fox Chase, however, Kahoots! trivia adds the dimension of speed. You must be more than just correct to win a round of Kahoots! – you must be fast. While it might seem like it would be helpful to have the answers on the screen, more than one player was burned by reflexively making the wrong choice or simply pressing the wrong button.
“You gotta be quick on the draw, folks,” said Helmke. “No time to Google the answers, which would be shameful anyway.”
Perhaps the speed component lent the advantage to individuals, but team players made an impressive showing. Early in round four, “Weird Facts,” the team of Gigimeechi briefly topped the leaderboard and garnered a supportive following for both their cute name and their joyful attitude.
Gigimeechi was a portmanteau comprised of the names of Gianna “Gigi” Lewis and Michelle “Meechies” Echeverry, who are both research study assistants in the Cancer Prevention and Control Program.
“We were really hopeful because there were a lot of animal facts at the start of the round,” said Lewis. “It shifted to non-animal facts, and things just went downhill from there.”
“If it got into sports, we would have been undefeatable,” added Echeverry.
“You just got to take the ‘L’s’ in stride,” interjected Lewis.
“Yeah, but if you take two ‘L’s,’” said Echeverry, making “L” shapes with her pointer finger and thumb from each hand on her forehead, “you can make a ‘W’ with it.”
Then they high-fived.
Four Rounds of Action-Packed Trivial Fury
Each round consisted of ten questions, revolving around a central theme. The first question out of the gate was, “What year was Fox Chase founded?” Almost as soon as Purdy read the question, fingers flew toward the buttons.
“Ok, folks, you really must not be paying attention if you didn’t notice we just had a 50th anniversary, that’s all I’m saying,” said Purdy.
The first round was all about Fox Chase, and the round was swept up by Nicole Ventriglia, CHES, a counselor in Clinical Genetics, who played online.
Round two took a deep dive into Philadelphia trivia, covering often obscure historical topics. Erin Longstreth-Papsun, MSN, RN, OCN, NEA-BC, Clinical Director, Ambulatory Network Clinics & Radiation Oncology Nursing, took the lead for the second round.
Round three dropped into pop culture but spread out on topics – from classic country to K-pop – favoring no single topic. Meghann Hainsworth, BS, ACRP-CP, Project Manager in the Office of Clinical Research, had just the right collection of broad facts at her command to take the win.
Round four delved into random weird facts and soon became a free-for-all on the leaderboard. By the end of the round, Michael Donapel, an IT systems analyst in Respiratory Care, clawed his way to victory.
Anybody could play for fun in the Championship Round, but only the top winner of each of the four previous rounds could come out as the Grand Prize Winner. And that was Hainsworth, who took home the BRAINIAC trophy and an additional $100 gift card.
“I love trivia, but never in a million years thought I’d take home the grand prize,” exclaimed Hainsworth. “Seems like all the “Jeopardy” I watch is finally paying off!”
According to Hainsworth, she is looking forward to defending her title next year.
Trivia Questions:
Round One: Fox Chase
- What year was Fox Chase Cancer Center founded? Answer: 1974 (EASY)
- In what year did Fox Chase first receive the Magnet Nursing Award? Answer: 2000 (EASY)
- Which vitamin is produced when the skin is exposed to sunlight? Answer: Vitamin D (EASY)
- The namesake of one of Fox Chase’s buildings was honored with a statue for his contributions. Who is this individual? Answer: Stanley P. Reimann (EASY)
- Which type of cancer is the most common in the United States? Answer: Skin cancer (EASY-MOD)
- What part of the human body contains the most bones? Answer: Hands (27 bones) (MOD-HARD)
- What animal has the longest pregnancy, lasting up to 660 days? Answer: Elephant (MOD-HARD)
- Which part of the brain controls balance and coordination? Answer: Cerebellum (MOD-HARD)
- Who helped create the first transgenic mammals? Answer: Beatrice Mintz (HARD)
- Which virus is linked to the development of cervical cancer? Answer: Human papillomavirus (HPV) (HARD)
Round Two: Philadelphia
- Who is featured in the iconic statue on top of City Hall? Answer: William Penn (EASY)
- The Owls are the sports teams of what public Philadelphia university? Answer: Temple University (EASY)
- Over 100 merchants offer fresh goods at which Philly location? Answer: Reading Terminal Market (EASY)
- What famous American founding father is buried at Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia? Answer: Benjamin Franklin (EASY)
- What year was Philadelphia founded? Answer: 1682 (MOD)
- Which Philadelphia park is larger than New York City’s Central Park? Answer: Fairmount Park (MOD)
- What is the name of the two-day music festival hosted on Labor Day? Answer: Made in America (MOD)
- What is an original name of the Liberty Bell? Answer: Old State House Bell (MOD)
- Which of Philadelphia’s historic neighborhoods was founded first? Answer: Queen Village (HARD)
- What was the original name of the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team before it was changed to its current title in 1963? Answer: The Syracuse Nationals (HARD)
Round Three: Pop Culture
- Which performer danced with a live snake on the MTV Video Music Awards in 2001? Answer: Britney Spears (EASY)
- In the TV Show “The Office,” what is the name of the paper company where the characters work? Answer: Dunder Mifflin (EASY)
- What is the name of the coffee shop where the characters of “Friends” hang out? Answer: Central Perk (EASY-MOD)
- Which artists released the album “The Wall” in 1979? Answer: Pink Floyd (MOD)
- Which song did Dolly Parton write in 1973 that later went on to become a hit for Whitney Houston? Answer: “I Will Always Love You” (MOD)
- In 2021, which K-Pop group became the first to be nominated for a Grammy Award? Answer: BTS (MOD)
- Which country artist released the hit song “Before He Cheats” in 2006? Answer: Carrie Underwood (MOD)
- Which band had a breakout hit with “Mr. Brightside” in 2003? Answer: The Killers (MOD)
- Which artist, other than Michael Jackson, had five number one singles from the same album? Answer: Katy Perry (HARD)
- What is the name of the fictional hotel in Stephen King’s “The Shining?” Answer: Overlook (HARD)
Round Four: Weird Facts
- What is the largest land carnivore? Answer: Polar Bear (EASY)
- Which bird is known for being able to fly backward? Answer: Hummingbird (EASY)
- What letter does not appear in any U.S. state name? Answer: Q (EASY)
- What is the smallest country in the world by landmass? Answer: Vatican City (EASY-MOD)
- Which animals hold hands while sleeping to avoid drifting apart? Answer: Sea Otters (MOD)
- Which city is the world’s largest exporter of mushrooms? Answer: Kennett Square, Pa. (MOD)
- What was the first toy to be advertised on TV? Answer: Mr. Potato Head (HARD)
- What is the first movie to put out a soundtrack? Answer: “Snow White” (HARD)
- What famous candy was invented to help smokers quit? Answer: Pez (HARD)
- Lettuce is a member of which plant family? Answer: Sunflower (MOD-HARD)
Championship Round
- Who helped develop the “two-hit” hypothesis? Answer: Alfred Knudson
- What was the original name of the street now known as Independence Mall, which runs alongside Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center? Answer: South B Street
- What is the name of the fictional newspaper where Peter Parker works in the “Spider-Man” comic series? Answer: Daily Bugle
- What letter does not appear in the names of the 118 elements of the periodic table? Answer: J
- What medical condition does a lack of iodine in your diet lead to? Answer: Goiter