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2015 Academic Decathletes On Energy, Ingenuity And Innovation

MADERA COUNTY – The 33rd Annual Madera County Academic Decathlon competition begins on Friday, Jan. 30, when students from Madera County will compete in the interview and essay competitions at Madera County Office of Education.

Yosemite High School has dominated the elite 10-event competition for more than two decades with Señor Steve Browning at the helm. The winner of Madera County’s Academic Decathlon will advance to the state competition in March.

Also participating for the title of county champion are Chawanakee Academy, Chowchilla High, Liberty High, Madera High, and Madera South High.

The remaining eight Decathlon events, including the speech competition, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7 at Madera South High School. This year’s topic is New Alternatives in Energy: Ingenuity and Innovation.

“Students will learn about this timely topic and hone much needed interview, speech and writing skills,” said Cecilia Massetti, Ed.D., Madera County Superintendent of Schools. “Students will use the knowledge and skills acquired through the Academic Decathlon for the rest of their lives.”

Chawanakee Academy students came in 2nd overall at 2014 Academic PentathlonSchools will be allowed up to 25 students per team and all are eligible for awards. The final overall team will be determined by selecting the top three scoring students from each division.

This is the second year the interview will be held on a separate day from the traditional Academic Decathlon day, the first Saturday in February. This will allow for the increased number of students and create a shorter Saturday competition.

This will also be the second year that the essay test will be held online. Students will complete their essays using a laptop computer. Essays will be scored by trained readers after the competition.

Students will continue to receive awards based on their division: Honor, Scholastic and Varsity. Each division will be awarded gold, silver and bronze medals for each subject.

For the second year hand-held devices will be used to input student test answers. Decathletes will take the art, economics, language and literature, mathematics, music, science and social science tests using the device.

Academic Decathlon 2014 - photo Kellie FlanaganThe Super Quiz will also be taken using the devices and will display an answer summary after each question. This will provide instant results to the audience after each round.

“Come and join us as our high school students demonstrate their knowledge during the Super Quiz,” said Massetti.

Yosemite High School won the 2014 Academic Decathlon for the 21st consecutive year. Chawanakee Academy took second for 2014, and Chowchilla Union came in third.

The public is invited to attend this year’s Super Quiz and Awards Ceremony on Feb. 7 beginning at 2:30 p.m. at Madera South High School. For more information please call Kristi Winter, Events Developer, at (559) 662-3873.

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