Who says rivalries are just for the field? At the inaugural Honors College Trivia Bowl, UNLV and UNR Honors students battled it out—not with touchdowns, but with trivia.

Held on UNLV’s campus just hours before the legendary Fremont Cannon football rivalry game, the event marked the beginning of a new tradition celebrating the brightest minds from Nevada’s top universities. The event was a true collaboration between UNLV Honors College Dean Lisa Menegatos and UNR Honors College Dean Matt Means, whose commitment to fostering camaraderie and mutual respect between their institutions made the competition possible.

The idea for the Trivia Bowl itself, along with the leadership that brought it to life, came from Dr. Tony Terrell of the UNLV Honors College. 

“The HC Trivia Bowl is more than just a competition—it’s a celebration of collaboration and academic excellence,” Terrell said. “Seeing students from both universities come together in such a spirited and meaningful way was incredibly rewarding.”

Rebels’ Fight and Wolf Pack’s Victory

The event featured six students from each Honors College answering questions across a variety of topics, including pop culture, history, science, mathematics, fine arts, and literature. Representing UNLV were students John Fabe, Ellowyn Glassford, Alyssa Lalos, Riley Ramos, Weston Steed, and Isabella Romero Yusti, coached by Honors staff members Marlon Urquico and Charles Javier.

As the game progressed, the score stayed neck and neck, leading to a dramatic overtime tie-breaker. The final question? "How many square miles is the land area of the state of Nevada?" The answer: 109,831 square miles.

UNR clinched the win with an impressively close estimate, taking home the championship trophy.

The UNR Honors College team made a big impression, not just for their performance but for traveling to Las Vegas over Thanksgiving weekend to participate in the event. Their victory was celebrated with cheers from supporters, and the trophy will now reside at UNR until next year’s rematch in Reno.

A Tradition is Born

The HC Trivia Bowl adds a new dimension to the historic rivalry between UNLV and UNR, proving that the friendly competition between the two universities can extend beyond fields and courts. By spotlighting collaboration and academic achievement, this event showcases the vibrant intellectual communities within both Honors Colleges.

“This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long-standing tradition between our Honors Colleges,” Terrell said. “Next year in Reno, we’ll be ready to bring the trophy home to UNLV.”