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2025 Academic Decathletes Ready for Competition

MADERA COUNTYThe 43rd Annual Madera County Academic Decathlon speech, interview, and Super Quiz competitions will be held at Madera South High School on Saturday, February 1st. The 2025 topic is “Our Changing Climate.”

picture of Dr. Cecilia Massetti with a black jacket and blue background

Dr. Cecilia Massetti, Madera County Superintendent of Schools.

“This prestigious academic competition is so important to our students, and we are looking forward to celebrating their achievements with them again this year,” said Dr. Cecilia Massetti, Madera County Superintendent of Schools.

Chowchilla Union High, Glacier High Charter, Liberty High, Madera High, Madera South High, and Matilda Torres High School will compete to be named county champion.

The winner of Madera County’s Academic Decathlon will advance to the state competition in March.

Students completed their essays online on December 12 at their individual school sites on the first day of the competition.  Trained readers are currently scoring essays.

2024 Decathlon Team from Glacier High

The second day of this three-day high school event was held on January 24th at Madera County Superintendent of Schools Conference Center. Students took tests in seven subject areas: art, economics, language and literature, mathematics, music, science, and social science.

Schools can have up to 25 students per team, and all students are eligible for awards. Choosing the final overall team takes place by selecting the top three scoring students from each division.  Three divisions compromise teams: Honor (“A” students), Scholastic (“B” students), and Varsity (“C” students).

          The 2025 Super Quiz on February 1st will be a collaborative effort.  Students in each round will be allowed to discuss the question for 10 seconds and then answer the questions independently.

Picture of Tricia Protzman

Madera County Deputy Superintendent, Tricia Protzman.

“The Super Quiz is a perfect opportunity to showcase the student’s skills and knowledge of the subjects in front of an audience,” said Tricia Protzman, Deputy Superintendent, Madera County Superintendent of Schools.

Tricia continues, “Parents, school administration, and the community are given a glimpse of how much work goes into competing and the topics the students have studied.”

YOU can volunteer to help score interviews and speeches on February 1st from 8:15-12:00 p.m. at Madera South High School.  Students will deliver a 4-minute prepared speech and a 2-minute impromptu speech and participate in a 7-minute interview.

“We wouldn’t be able to create such a successful event without the engagement of our community volunteers,” said Dr. Massetti.  “It is a great way to get involved, especially as a judge, listening to insightful speeches and interviewing students who demonstrate the qualities needed for our future as the next community leaders.”

Students will receive awards based on their division: Honor, Scholastic, and Varsity.  Each division has gold, silver, and bronze medals for each subject.  The highest-scoring student in each subject will receive a $100 scholarship.  The highest-scoring senior on each team will receive $250, and the highest-scoring student overall will receive a $500 scholarship. Local donors provide funding for scholarships.  Educational Employees Credit Union is a Superintendent’s Circle Sponsor of this year’s student academic events.

         Join us for the Super Quiz and Awards Ceremony on February 1st! Everyone is welcome to attend, beginning at 12:00 p.m. at Madera South High School.  The awards ceremony begins at 1:45 p.m.

For more information or to volunteer, please call Kristi Winter, Coordinator, Student Events, at 559-662-3873 or email kwinter@mcsos.org.

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