Teams of four contestants and one alternate from Solomon Schechter High School of Glen Cove and Long Island Lutheran High School of Brookville will face off in the first round of the seventh annual Long Island Challenge on Jan. 4, 2004. The competition, moderated by News 12 anchor Scott Feldman, will be shown exclusively on News 12 Long Island at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. and again the following Saturday, January 10, at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.

Thirty-two Long Island high schools were chosen at random from a field of 91 applicants to compete in the 2003-2004 season of The Long Island Challenge, an academic quiz show designed to test students' knowledge of math, science, literature, news and local history. The participating schools are divided evenly between Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

"Every year The Long Island Challenge generates excitement not only for the participating schools, but also for TV audiences who enjoy playing along at home," said Dodie Tschirch, Cablevision's regional vice president of public affairs. "The show demonstrates Cablevision's ongoing commitment to Long Island education, support of our young local scholars, and the presentation of quality local programming. We wish Solomon Schechter and Long Island Lutheran good luck as they face off in round one."

More information on The Long Island Challenge, including standings, statistics and short contestant bios, will be available on www.powertolearn.com as the tournament progresses.