PLEASANT HILL, Calif., – At the energy-filled Academic Decathlon Awards Reception, it was announced that Campolindo High School (Moraga) won the 2016 East County Regional Academic Decathlon for the sixth straight year.
Along with being the East Bay Regional winner, the team will also represent Contra Costa County in the California State Academic Decathlon competition. Following Campolindo, were Las Lomas High School (Walnut Creek), second place; and Dublin High School, third place.
Directed by the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) and with the assistance of community volunteers, the Academic Decathlon provides an opportunity for high school students to compete as individuals and teams in a series of ten academic tests and demonstrations. The subjects in the competition include art, economics, literature, mathematics, music, science, social science, essay, interview, and speech (prepared and impromptu)–plus the popular SuperQuiz™.
Approximately, 120 participating high school students have been studying and preparing for this event with their coaches since September. This year’s Academic Decathlon theme was India.
This year’s teams represent the following high schools: Acalanes (Lafayette), California (San Ramon), Campolindo (Moraga), Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), Dublin (Dublin), Freedom (Oakley), Irvington (Fremont), Las Lomas (Walnut Creek), Miramonte (Orinda), and Pittsburg (Pittsburg).
Along with earning their sixth consecutive year as Contra Costa County’s Academic Decathlon champion, Campolindo was also last year’s national Academic Decathlon winner in the Medium School Category. Visit this Web page to see Contra Costa County winning schools over the years. High school teams are made up of nine students, grades 9-12, with a maximum of three students in each of the following divisions: Honors (3.75-4.00 GPA), Scholastic (3.00-3.74 GPA) and Varsity (2.99 GPA and below).
The Campolindo team will represent Contra Costa County at the California State Academic Decathlon, to be held in Sacramento, March 17-20. Alameda County will be represented by Dublin’s team in the state Academic Decathlon competition.
The 2016 East Bay Regional Academic Decathlon overall school rankings:
1. Campolindo
2. Las Lomas
3. Dublin
4. Freedom
5. Pittsburg
6. Irvington
Compolindo High School also won this year’s East Bay Regional Academic Decathlon SuperQuiz™, held last Saturday.
Individual Gold Awards (highest individual score)
Top Scoring Individual – Varsity Category
Abraham Anderson (10th grade), Las Lomas
Top Scoring Individual – Varsity Category
Justice Krugman (11th grade), Pittsburg
Top Scoring Individual – Varsity Category
Holden Kolner (12th grade), Campolindo
Top Scoring Individual – Scholastic Category
Janely Oseguera (9th grade), Freedom
Top Scoring Individual – Scholastic Category
Ellen Si (10th grade), Campolindo
Top Scoring Individual Overall Awards – Scholastic Category
Bennett Coates (11th grade), Campolindo
Top Scoring Individual Overall Awards – Scholastic Category
Prathamesh Nagnoor (12th grade), Las Lomas
Top Scoring Individual Overall Awards – Honor Category
Jennifer Liu (9th grade), Dublin
Top Scoring Individual Overall Awards – Honor Category
Ashley Zhang (10th grade), Campolindo
Top Scoring Individual Overall Awards – Honor Category
Zoe Portnoff (11th grade), Campolindo
Top Scoring Individual Overall Awards – Honor Category
Uma Gaffney (10th grade), Campolindo
HISTORY
The Academic Decathlon was first created by Dr. Robert Peterson, former Superintendent of Schools in Orange County, California. Firmly believing that everyone’s learning potential can be maximized through competitive challenge, Dr. Peterson set in motion the contest that has since come to be recognized as the most prestigious high school academic team competition in the United States. The program spread rapidly throughout the states due to the success and excitement it engendered. USAD was founded in 1981.
This year’s National Academic Decathlon will be held in Anchorage, Alaska, April 28-30.
