View source for User:Academic Challenger

My name is Skylar Covich. I have been totally blind since birth, and began editing Wikipedia at the age of 16 in 2003. My user name comes from the name of a high school TV game show I was on. I have been an administrator since 2004, and was very active until starting graduate school in 2009. Throughout that time, I created about 1000 articles, on subjects including American and world politics and political history, religion, literature, music, and blindness organizations/companies. I also improved the content of many other articles on those subjects. As an administrator, I was at one time among the most active [[Wikipedia:New pages patrol|New Page patrollers]], speedily deleting thousands of pages which were indisputably inappropriate. I additionally reverted vandalism, and disciplined problematic users while mentoring new good contributors.

I have sporadically edited since 2009, and renewed my commitment to the free knowledge movement in 2019 when [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiBlind_User_Group WikiBlind] was founded. I and another prolific blind editor now seek to recruit new blind editors to Wikipedia and also improve the content of articles around blindness.

I have always exclusively used the [[Job Access With Speech]] software for editing.

I earned my BA from [[Saint Mary's College of California]] in 2009 and my Ph.D. in political science from the [[University of California, Santa Barbara]] in 2017. I taught college political science courses for nearly 10 years. Currently I work in the field of access technology, for the [[Braille Institute]].

I live with my wife Theresa and sons Peter and Andrew in [[Santa Barbara, California]]. I enjoy playing and listening to music, having played piano since an early age, clarinet throughout middle and high school, and later singing in my Catholic church choir.


{{User WikiBlind}}

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==My Awards==
For your many contributions on political figures world-wide, I award you this barnstar. [[User:Isomorphic|Isomorphic]]
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'''For fighting vandals above and beyond the call of duty, I hereby award you this Barnstar.'''--[[User:Fwdixon|FWDixon]] 13:19, 23 August 2005 (UTC)
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I, V. Molotov, hereby give you this Working Man's Barnstar for taking out the garbage in Wikipedia.

[[Image:Working Man's Barnstar.png]]

Take care, [[User:V. Molotov|Molotov]] [[User_talk:V. Molotov| (talk)]] [[Image:Flag of California.svg|25px]] 18:58, 20 September 2005 (UTC)
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'''For fighting vandals above and beyond the call of duty, I hereby award you this Barnstar.'''-- [[User:Vufors|Vufors]] 07:38, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
[[Image:Barnstar.png|center|]]
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'''For fighting vandals above and beyond the call of duty, I hereby award you this Barnstar.'''-- [[User:Arhain|Arhain]] 08:37, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
[[Image:Barnstar.png|center|]]
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'''For fighting vandals above and beyond the call of duty, I hereby award you this Barnstar.'''-- [[User:Doobi18|Doobi18]] 07:38, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
[[Image:Barnstar.png|center|]]
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'''For fighting vandals above and beyond the call of duty, I hereby award you this Barnstar.'''--
[[User:Howdyhody|Howdyhody]] 10:27, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
[[Image:Barnstar.png|centre|]]
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[[Image:WikiDefender Barnstar.png|left|frame|I, Kukini, hereby award '''Academic Challenger''' the '''WikiDefender Barnstar''' for incredibly efficient and consistent wikidefense. [[User:Kukini|Kukini]] 23:16, 25 April 2006 (UTC)]]
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[[Image:Barnstar.png|centre|]]
'''For being self-important and conceited, I award you this barnstar.'''--[[User:68.4.58.77|68.4.58.77]] 00:22, 2 May 2006 (UTC)
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{| style="border: 1px solid {{{border|gray}}}; background-color: {{{color|#fdffe7}}};"
|rowspan="2" valign="top" | [[Image:Barnstar_of_Reversion2.png|100px]]
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|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: bottom; height: 1.1em;" | '''The RickK Anti-Vandalism Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | I award you this barnstar for all the reasons everyone else did <span style="color:#0c5b91">[[User:Earth KING|Earth KING]]</span> 23:15, 16 May 2006 (UTC)
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{| style="border: 1px solid {{{border|gray}}}; background-color: {{{color|#fdffe7}}};"
|rowspan="2" valign="top" | [[Image:Editors Barnstar.png|100px]]
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|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: bottom; height: 1.1em;" | '''The Editor's Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | For removing 9000+ unencyclopedically unworthy pages from Wikipedia and helping to keep the encyclopedia in a healthy state - As a new admin, I can certainly attest to the unappetizing nature of this hard work (clearing CSD). Regards, '''[[User:Blnguyen|Blnguyen]]'''
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{| style="border: 1px solid {{{border|gray}}}; background-color: {{{color|#fdffe7}}};"
|rowspan="2" valign="top" | [[Image:Barnstar_of_Reversion2.png|100px]]
|rowspan="2" |
|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: bottom; height: 1.1em;" | '''The RickK Anti-Vandalism Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | I award you this barnstar for your tireless ongoing efforts in countering vandalism on Wikipedia - every time I seem to go to revert something, you always seem to beat me! Keep up the great work in keeping Wikipedia in pristine condition. [[User:Daniel.Bryant|Daniel.Bryant (aka Killfest2)]] 05:18, 12 July 2006 (UTC)
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{| style="border: 1px solid {{{border|gray}}}; background-color: {{{color|#fdffe7}}};"
|rowspan="2" valign="middle" | [[Image:Barnstar_of_Reversion2.png|100px]]
|rowspan="2" |
|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: middle; height: 1.1em;" | '''The RickK Anti-Vandalism Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: middle; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | For leaving your personal thoughts and opinions at the door and working against vandalism of the [[Prussian Blue (duo)]] article by a vandal with whom others may have sympathized. Regards, [[User:NickW557|Nick]]—<sup>[[User:NickW557/Contact|Contact]]</sup>/<sub>[[Special:Contributions/NickW557|Contribs]]</sub> 03:28, 26 September 2006 (UTC)
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{| style="border: 1px solid {{{border|gray}}}; background-color: {{{color|#fdffe7}}};"
|rowspan="2" valign="middle" | [[Image:Surreal Barnstar.png|100px]]
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|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: middle; height: 1.1em;" | '''The Surreal Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: middle; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | For helping me with editing when I was first introduced to Wikipedia. Thank you. [[User:Sharkface217|Sharkface217]] 00:46, 31 October 2006 (UTC) 
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<div STYLE="position:relative; width:300px; background-color:#f9f0C9; border: 1px solid #888850; padding:2px;">[[image:smiley.svg|left|thumb|90px|]]<small>For your contributions to Wikipedia and humanity in general, you are hereby granted the coveted <B>[[User:Pedia-I/SmileyAward|Random Smiley Award]]</b><BR>by [[User:Pedia-I|<span style="color:darkblue; font-size:small; font-family:Constantia;">Pedia-I</span>]] <sup>[[User:Pedia-I/_Jesus|<span style="color:blue;">Project</span> <span style="color:#00FF00;">J</span><span style="color:#44FF00;">e</span><span style="color:#99DD11;">s</span><span style="color:#DDDD11;">u</span><span style="color:#DDDD11;">s</span>]] </sup><BR>([[User:Pedia-I/SmileyAward|Explanation and Disclaimer]])</small></DIV>
{| style="border: 1px solid {{{border|gray}}}; background-color: {{{color|#fdffe7}}};"
|rowspan="2" valign="middle" | [[Image:Barnstar_of_Reversion2.png|100px]]
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|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: middle; height: 1.1em;" | '''The RickK Anti-Vandalism Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: middle; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | I [[User:Kevin Kahle|Kevin Kahle]] 03:38, 4 February 2007 (UTC)Kevin Kahle give you this banstar for helping stop vandalism on Wikipedia!
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[[Image:Original Barnstar.png|frame|{{{align|left}}}|'''〈[[User:Redvers|<span style="color:red;">RED</span>]][[User_talk:Redvers|<span style="color:red;">VEЯS</span>]]〉''' awards this Barnstar to '''Academic Challenger''' for ace vandal fighting.]]Thanks for the rv on my user page, mate! '''〈[[User:Redvers|<span style="color:red;">RED</span>]][[User_talk:Redvers|<span style="color:red;">VEЯS</span>]]〉''' 21:32, 14 March 2007 (UTC)<br clear="all">

{| style="border: 1px solid {{{border|gray}}}; background-color: {{{color|#fdffe7}}};"
|rowspan="2" valign="middle" | [[Image:Barnstar_of_Reversion2.png|100px]]
|rowspan="2" |
|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: middle; height: 1.1em;" | '''The RickK Anti-Vandalism Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: middle; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | For continuing your sterling efforts fighting vandals, I hereby award you this barnstar. [[User:Colds7ream|Colds7ream]] 09:21, 28 March 2007 (UTC)
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{| style="border: 1px solid {{{border|gray}}}; background-color: {{{color|#fdffe7}}};"
|rowspan="2" valign="middle" | [[Image:Barnstar_of_Reversion2.png|100px]]
|rowspan="2" |
|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: middle; height: 1.1em;" | '''The RickK Anti-Vandalism Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: middle; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | Everywhere I go, especially [[WP:AIV]], Academic Challenger is always there, helping out and blocking vandals. He does an amazing job, and I don't know what AIV would do without him! Thanks for reverting vandalism and making Wikipedia even better then it already is! [[User:Chickyfuzz14|Chickyfuzz14]]<sup>[[User talk:Chickyfuzz14|(user talk)]]</sup> 05:28, 7 June 2007 (UTC)
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{| style="border: 1px solid {{{border|gray}}}; background-color: {{{color|#fdffe7}}};"
|rowspan="2" valign="middle" | [[Image:SpecialBarnstar.png|100px]]
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|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: middle; height: 1.1em;" | '''The Special Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: middle; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | [[User:Jackrm|'''Jackrm''']] is awarding '''Academic Challenger''' a Special Barnstar for being a great admin at times when there is a low ammount of active admins due to the time, and for deleting those darn nonsense pages! → [[User:Jackrm|<b><span style="color:Red;">j</span><span style="color:black;">acĸrм </span></b>]]<small>( [[User_talk:Jackrm|<span style="color:Black;"> talk</span>]] |  [[User:Jackrm/Signatures| <span style="color:black;">sign</span>]] )</small> 07:56, 30 August 2007 (UTC)
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{| style="border: 1px solid {{{border|gray}}}; background-color: {{{color|#fdffe7}}};"
|rowspan="2" valign="middle" | [[Image:Original_Barnstar.png|100px]]
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|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: middle; height: 1.1em;" | '''The Original Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: middle; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | Good job.[[User:The4532|The4532]] ([[User talk:The4532|talk]]) 17:04, 11 December 2007 (UTC)
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{| style="background-color:#F5FFF5; border:1px solid #AAAAAA"
| Thank you for participating in [[Wikipedia:Requests_for_adminship/MBisanz|my RfA]]! It was closed as successful with 58 supporting, 0 opposing, and 2 neutral. I hope to demonstrate that your trust in me is rightly placed and am always open to critiques and suggestions. Cheers. '''[[User:MBisanz|<span style='color: #FFFF00;background-color: #0000FF;'>MBisanz</span>]]''' <sup>[[User talk:MBisanz|<span style='color: #FFA500;'>talk</span>]]</sup> 04:33, 16 February 2008 (UTC)
|[[Image:Glasses 800 edit.png|100px|right|thumb|Best pic I've seen]]
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{| style="border: 1px solid {{{border|gray}}}; background-color: {{{color|#fdffe7}}};"
|rowspan="2" valign="middle" | [[Image:WikiDefender_Barnstar.png|100px]]
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|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: middle; height: 1.1em;" | '''The Mighty Defender of the Wiki Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: middle; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | In recognition & thanks for your '''''[[superman|heroic efforts]]''''' in fighting vandals, improving all Wikipedia articles and adding to our sum of knowledge!  [[User:Dreadstar|Dreadstar]] <small>[[User talk:Dreadstar|<span class="Unicode">†</span>]]</small> 16:14, 27 April 2008 (UTC)
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{| style="border: 1px solid gray; background-color: #fdffe7;"
|rowspan="2" valign="middle" | [[Image:Working_Man's_Barnstar.png|100px]]
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|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: middle; height: 1.1em;" | '''The Working {{#switch: gender
  |w=Woman's
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}} Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: middle; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | I am awarding this because you are an administrator. Thank you for all that you do. [[User:LAAFan|<span style="color:red; font-family:Times New Roman;">LAA</span>]][[User talk:LAAFan|<span style="color:black; font-family:Times New Roman;">Fan</span>]]''<sup>[[User:LAAFan/Guestbook|sign]]</sup> <sub>[[Wikipedia:Editor review/LAAFan 2|review]]</sub>'' 23:26, 21 September 2008 (UTC)
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{| style="border: 1px solid gray; background-color: #fdffe7;"
|rowspan="2" valign="middle" | [[Image:SombreroBarnstar.png|105px]]
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|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: middle; height: 1.1em;" | '''El Sombrero Barnstar Award'''  
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|style="vertical-align: middle; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | You deserve this award for contributing to content of interest to the '''[[Wikipedia:WikiProject_Latinos|Latinos WikiProject]]'''. Outstanding contributions are generally about articles pertaining to Latinos and/or Hispanics in the United States as well as articles about Latin America.  [[User:LatinoMuslim|LatinoMuslim]] 02:13, 2 November 2008 (UTC)
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{| style="border: 1px solid gray; background-color: #fdffe7;"
|rowspan="2" valign="middle" | [[Image:SpecialBarnstar.png|100px]]
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|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: middle; height: 1.1em;" | '''The Special Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: middle; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | You're a really good general contributer to Wikipedia! Keep up the good work! [[User:Advanceforward|Advanceforward]] ([[User talk:Advanceforward|talk]]) 12:44, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
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{| style="border: 1px solid gray; background-color: #fdffe7;"
|rowspan="2" valign="middle" | [[Image:Admin Barnstar.png|100px]]
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|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: middle; height: 1.1em;" | '''The Administrator's Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: middle; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | For dealing with my reports to AIV so efficiently. <span style="font-family:Segoe Media Center">[[User:Jeffrey Mall|Jeffrey Mall]]</span> <small>([[User talk:Jeffrey Mall|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Jeffrey Mall|contribs]])</small> - 22:15, 16 August 2009 (UTC)
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{| style="background-color: #fdffe7; border: 1px solid #fceb92;"
|rowspan="2" style="vertical-align: middle; padding: 5px;" | [[File:Original Barnstar Hires.png|100px]]
|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 3px 3px 0 3px; height: 1.5em;" | '''The Original Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px;" | I dont understand why you are saying that my wikipedia post is an advert. Its not an advert.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_architectural_plan_local_authority_approval
 [[User:A4architect|A4architect]] ([[User talk:A4architect|talk]]) 09:31, 18 February 2012 (UTC)
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{| style="background-color: #fdffe7; border: 1px solid #fceb92;"
|rowspan="2" style="vertical-align: middle; padding: 5px;" | [[File:WikiDefender Barnstar Hires.png|100px]]
|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 3px 3px 0 3px; height: 1.5em;" | '''The Defender of the Wiki Barnstar'''
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|style="vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px;" | learn to tolerate the need for the world to get information in a fair manner. Refrain from selective wikipedia publishing of info. [[User:A4architect|A4architect]] ([[User talk:A4architect|talk]]) 09:40, 18 February 2012 (UTC)
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