Local Trivia Book Aims to Raise Spirits, Holiday IQ and Scholarship Funds

TYRONE, Pa. - Nov. 28, 2016 - PRLog -- A holiday Facebook trivia contest and a tribute to a departed classmate has turned an annual tradition into a fundraising project for a Tyrone Area High School scholarship, according to members of the TAHS Class of 1984.

Three Tyrone Area High School Class of 1984 alumni --  Matt Swayne of State College, Jennifer Chuang of West Chester, PA and Craig Weyant of Atlanta, GA -- have collaborated over the past year to self-publish a Christmas trivia book to help fund their alma mater's memorial scholarship award. The book, Amy's Holiday Trivia: 84 Questions from the Class of '84, is currently on sale at Gardner's Candies of Tyrone, The Tyrone Chamber of Commerce offices, as well as Amazon.com.

The book was written in memory of their classmate and friend Amy Emenhiser who died unexpectedly in 2011.

"Amy loved the Christmas season, festive decorations, classic traditions and trivial tidbits that envelop the holiday," said Weyant. "As social media grew, Amy's online presence was energetic. One Christmas season soon after Facebook launched, and with all her friends and acquaintances actively following her Facebook posts, Amy's Holiday Trivia was born."

When Emenhiser passed away, Swayne took up the trivia master duties.

"The funny thing is when I played, I never tried to give the correct answer, I would try to come up with the goofiest answer to make Amy laugh, which explains most of my academic career at TAHS," said Swayne. "But we all had such a blast doing it -- and learning about the holidays -- that I wanted to take it over to honor Amy and maybe as a way of saying I'm sorry for all the times I posted 'gafilte fish' as an answer to one of her trivia questions."

After a few years, Swayne realized they had amassed enough material to create a book of trivia, recipes, and tidbits for a book. Weyant and Chuang joined in helping with researching, writing, editing, designing, and marketing.

The resulting book, which is a paperback, makes a great gift exchange or stocking stuffer, added Weyant.

All profits from the book will be donated to the Class of 1984's Soar with '84 award for one graduating Tyrone senior.

"Our fundraising efforts for this award is really not just a way of thanking the tremendous support we got from the teachers, staff, and administrators of the school district, but also a way of giving back to our alma mater, its students and the entire community that helped raise us," said Shirley Irvin, TAHS Class of '84 committee president.

For more information on, or play along on Facebook by "liking" Amy's Holiday Trivia https://www.facebook.com/amysholidaytrivia.