MADERA COUNTY – Academic Decathletes from throughout California will attend Madera County Office of Education’s Academic Decathlon Lecture Day on Thursday, Oct. 23. Valley experts will lecture on six subject areas to more than 450 students from throughout the state.
“We are happy to welcome Decathletes from across California to the eighth annual Lecture Day,” said Cyndy Dolph, Associate Superintendent, Madera County Office of Education. “The Academic Decathlon Lecture Day has become the unofficial start of the academic competition year!” The competition year runs from now through February 2015, when the main event takes place.
Yosemite High School won the 2014 Academic Decathlon held on Feb. 1, for the 21st consecutive year (pictured). Chawanakee Academy took second, and Chowchila Union came in third.
To kick off the new academic season, decathletes will attend four of six sessions throughout the day. Sessions will include: Art, presented by Jason Napier, Liberty High School teacher; Literature, nature writing and Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, presented by Dr. Ray Winter, Fresno Pacific University professor; Innovations in Music, presented by Dr. Dieter Wulfhorst, Fresno Pacific University professor; Social Science, presented by Mr. David Richardson, Madera Center professor; Energy Conversion, taught by Dr. Don Williams, Fresno State professor; and Speech, presented by Dr. Brad Millar, Madera Center professor.
“We appreciate the participation of local teachers and professors who will share their expertise and insight to prepare and motivate students for this year’s competition,” said Dolph.
Professors will lecture for at least two 50 minute sessions throughout the day.
Each session will be geared toward the topics and areas of study for the 2014 Academic Decathlon. This year’s Decathlon theme is New Alternatives in Energy: Ingenuity and Innovation. Students will take tests in art, economics, language and literature, math, music, science and social science.
The Lecture will be held from 10:00 a.m.- 2:20 p.m. at Movies Madera. Each speaker will lecture in a theater and students will move about the different theaters.
Owner Bob Gran donated the theater and staff for the event. The event is sponsored by Madera County Schools Foundation and Madera County Office of Education.
