Congratulations! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Gender Reveal

Yes, the Gender Reveal Party has become popular - it seems we celebrate everything these days. Essentially, a pink or blue 'reveal' (smoke, food, balloons) is used to make the announcement. As with many of these types of parties, one-upmanship has made its way into many of the celebrations, sometimes with horrific results - blame for 2020's devastating El Dorado forest fire in Southern California has been laid at the feet of pyrotechnics used at one of these parties.

Answer: Graduation

In many places, schools offer preschoolers, as well as kindergartners, sixth-graders, and others a small graduation ceremony as they get promoted to the next grade level. Of course, historically, graduating high school and university seniors have these events, followed often by big parties thrown by the families.

Answer: Commencement

The term commencement is used to indicate that the time is not so much that your schooling is complete, but rather that you are about to "commence" the rest of your life and career. Sometimes the event is also known as a convocation or invocation. These are generally grand events with keynote speakers, past and current graduates and members of the staff cheering on the grads as they depart on their new lives.

Answer: Valediction

From the Latin "vale dicere" - or "say farewell" - the valedictorian generally speaks last at commencement ceremony, delivering the valediction - an often bittersweet "goodbye" to the university, staff and fellow students. A good speech will often contain stories that the students share from their time at school, thankfulness for their success and a cheerful sendoff for all.

The second-in-class student is dubbed "Salutatorian" and generally gives a similar speech to open the ceremonies.

Answer: Laureate

Nobel prize winners are called Nobel Laureates. Alfred Nobel had developed, and had become enormously wealthy by, his invention of dynamite but was inspired to create his famed prizes after reading his own, erroneous, 1888 obituary in a French paper in which he was called a "merchant of death". (The death was actually of his brother). Nobel, concerned about his legacy, changed his will to leave 94% of his fortune to a foundation from which the prizes were established.

Answer: Tony

The coveted Tony (or the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre) is the award for performance in live Broadway theater is given out annually in Manhattan. Antoinette Perry (1888-1946) was a theatrical actress, director, producer and co-founder of the American Theatre Wing (the Wing for short).

Answer: Joseph Pulitzer

Joseph Pulitzer (1847-1911) made a fortune in the newspaper publishing business and upon his death, his will provided for the eventual creation of the Pulitzer Prize in 1917. Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst had an ongoing competition for readership in the late 1800s which both used to develop what is called today, "yellow journalism" or "tabloid journalism".

This type of reporting included sensationalistic headlines, sordid stories involving sex and crime and other provocative and often under-researched "news".

Answer: Audubon Medal

The Audubon Medal was started in 1947 and recognizes outstanding achievements in environmental protection and is one of the highest honors in conservation. The others are literary in nature - the Hugo is given for outstanding science fiction, the Newbery for children's literature and the Edgar is awarded for mystery writing.

Answer: Medal of Honor

Often earned posthumously, the Medal of Honor is by far the most prestigious US military award and is earned by service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The first dual recipient was Thomas Custer (George's younger brother) and were awarded for his actions in the US Civil War (both times for the perilous taking of enemies' signaling flags). Both Custer brothers were killed in the infamous Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876.

Answer: Dead

Yes, unfortunately for your earthly self, you will never witness your own sainthood. The many steps begin after you are dead and might take years to complete. Saints do not have to be without sin, but must make progress towards perfection, and be responsible for at least two miracles. Virginity, vegetarianism and parenthood are definitely not required.