Eastern students will put their college education to the test when they go eye-to-eye with Jefferson Elementary School students at the “Is EIU Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” competition today.

Hosted by the Mortar Board, the event will benefit the organization’s “Reading is Leading” national book drive. Audience members will compete in a style similar to the “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” television game show format.

Anna Sprague, president of the Mortar Board, said that she wanted to bring this event to campus to generate some attention for the organization.

The Mortar Board is the premier national honor society recognizing college seniors for superior achievement in scholarship, leadership and service, Sprague said. Since 1918, the organization has initiated over a quarter of million members nationally.

“At other schools, Mortar Board is a really big deal,” Sprague said. “It’s been difficult getting students involved, so this would be a great opportunity to show people how (the Mortar Board) is involved in philanthropy.”

Sprague said the inspiration for the event came from a conference she attended over the summer that featured creative service projects to get the community involved. Sprague and the Mortar Board decided to focus on the “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” franchise to involve students of all ages.

Preparation began back in early September with Sprague contacting Jefferson Elementary School administration. Teachers distributed the flyer to students and parents were able to contact Sprague to get their child entered.

The parents have been very involved in the organization of this event Sprague said.

“They’ve been really great and they’re really excited to have their child compete,” Sprague said. “It’s even better because the kids are the ones that get to be involved with the community.”

Prior to the event, the fifth graders were given a set of questions to study, however, they are not allowed to use their answers during the event, Sprague said. Five fifth graders will compete.

Admission to the event is a gently used children’s book or canned good. Sprague said any book donation supports the Mortar national “Reading is Leading” drive. For every item a student donates, they will be given a ticket for a raffle.

The difference between the competition format and the television show is that contestants will be allowed one “peek” and no “saves.” Contestants will choose three out of five questions from each grade level and whoever accumulates the most points by the end of the night will be the winner.

Nine to 12 contestants will have the opportunity to compete, Sprague added.

Depending on turnout, Sprague said the Mortar Board may sponsor another “Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” event towards the end of the semester.

WalMart gift cards will be awarded as prizes.

For the spring semester, the Mortar Board is trying to bring Dave Coleman on campus. Coleman, whom the movie “Hitch” was based on, is a world-renowned “love doctor.”

“Is EIU Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” will take place at 6 p.m. today in the University Ballroom in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Union.

Shelley Holmgren can be reached at 581-7942

or meholmgren@eiu.edu.