When you think of the age-old quiz show “It’s Academic,” an image of overly-intelligent contestants (perhaps in check­ered shirts and bow ties) may come to mind.

When you think of Lang­ley’s “It’s Academic” team, you may see all of the overachiev­ers in your classes who know every bizarre fact there is known to man and woman.

I’m here to tell you that these as­sumptions about It’s Academic are en­tirely true.

I recently saw a taping of “It’s Academic” and it was everything I expected: ridiculously smart students, bright lights, insane questions, and a stu­dio audience whose excitement was roughly equiva­lent to that of a Mega Millions lottery winner.

Every month, a group of supremely in­telligent high school stu­dents, quizmasters, and teachers meet at NBC Studios in Washington to tape the longest running game show in television history, “It’s Academic.”

On a rainy Saturday after­noon, I arrived at NBC’s Wash­ington studios, which looks a lot like a regular office building except for the six story tall television tower looming over it.

Because NBC tapes three episodes back to back in one day every month, the host, WTOP Radio’s Hillary Howard, has to change clothes between matches so it looks authentic when they broadcast it over the next few weeks.

As the show– a semifinals match where the schools competing were vying for a spot in the “It’s Academic Superbowl”– be­gan, you had a sense that all three teams knew most of the answers and the real competition was which team could hit their buzzers first.

Although it may not be the most popu­lar activity at Langley, what other sport or ac­tivity can get you on a television show and give you the chance to earn $10,000 scholarship?

“It’s Academic” is also steeped with histo­ry. The NBC studio where the show is taped is right next to NBC’s iconic “Meet the Press” and just a few floors beneath NBC News’ Washington Bureau.

Langley’s contestants also join some pretty famous folks who have played the game.

Secretary of State and former First Lady Hillary Clinton, political commentator George Stepha­nopoulos, New York Senator Charles Schumer, and journalist and novelist David Ignatius were all on their high schools’ ‘It’s Academic” teams.

Now, this piece was not written with the intent of persuading all of you to join the Langley “It’s Academic” team. However, the team does de­serve more respect and appreciation.

Acknowledge those overachievers in your classes and support the Langley “It’s Academic” team because, let’s face it–they’ll probably all be your bosses someday.

Watch It’s Academic on June 16 at 10:30 on NBC 4.