Foster, George Ranch advance to State Academic Decathlon

Feb 03, 2016 | Community Relations


foster acadec
Foster High Academic Decathletes: Minh-Duc Pham, Levi Malone, Erek Jahn, Rebekka Anderson, Jade Kanemitsu, Rami Ghannam, Madeline Martin, Joshua Sly and Coach Jacob Nowaczewski.

grhs acadec
George Ranch High Academic Decathletes: Phoebe Diep, Nikita Loftin, Zachary Knizner, Evan Matthews, Ana Solimano, Leo Lin, Debbie Nehikhuere, Hope Nasr and coaches Gene Eubanks and Austin Throop.

Lamar CISD is sending two teams to the State Academic Decathlon competition, to be held Feb. 25-28 in San Antonio.

Foster High School advances, having won the Region 6 title. George Ranch High School moves on after finishing 2nd at Region, but still scoring in the top 30 in Texas.

The Academic Decathlon is designed to include students from all academic backgrounds. Each nine-member team consists of three A students, three B students and three C students. In addition to a seven-minute interview, a one-hour essay and two speeches (four minutes prepared and two minutes impromptu), written comprehensive exams are given in music, art, language/literature, mathematics, economics, (social) science and the Super Quiz.

The final event is the Super Quiz relay. All students assemble in a gymnasium setting as one student from each school is tested. Five questions are asked of this group of students. Then, a second wave of students participate, then a third, and so on until nine rounds are completed (three A, three B, and three C rounds). 

Minh-Duc Pham, Levi Malone, Erek Jahn, Rebekka Anderson, Jade Kanemitsu, Rami Ghannam, Madeline Martin and Joshua Sly will represent Foster. Jacob Nowaczewski coaches the Falcons.

The George Ranch team is Phoebe Diep, Nikita Loftin, Zachary Knizner, Evan Matthews, Ana Solimano, Leo Lin, Debbie Nehikhuere and Hope Nasr. Gene Eubanks and Austin Throop are coaching the Longhorns.