BUTLER TWP — Dozens of high school students will compete in the 12th annual Armstrong Academic Challenge March 15 in the Succop Theater on the campus of Butler County Community College.

The Academic Challenge will be televised live beginning at 9 a.m. on Armstrong Channel 10.

The 17-team tournament includes Butler, Knoch, Grove City, Freeport and Slippery Rock high schools.

The schedule of first-round matches that includes area schools is:

• 9 a.m. North Allegheny vs. Slippery Rock

• 10 a.m. Grove City vs. Mercer

• 10:30 a.m. Butler vs. winner of the North Allegheny/Slippery Rock match

• 11 a.m. Knoch vs. Maplewood

• 1 p.m. Freeport vs. Saegertown.

The championship match will begin at 4:30 p.m.

The top four finishers will receive school scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $250. Students in the final four teams will receive U.S. Savings Bonds.

All students participating will be eligible to apply for two $1,000 Armstrong Academic Challenge scholarships offered through the Butler County Community College Foundation.

BC3 is Armstrong's partner in presenting the competition.