If the Academic Decathlon were in the Olympics, Juneau-Douglas High School would have brought home 19 medals this weekend: six gold medals, seven silver medals and six bronze medals from various events. Acadeca is the Olympics of the mind. Every year, several JDHS students test their mental prowess and study the arts, music, literature, history, science, and economics relevant to a particular theme; this year it’s everything Africa. Additionally, they have to prepare and present a speech, write a timed essay, and participate in a mock interview. They joke that they take tests for fun and, indeed, testing is a large part of what they do. But if you ask any of them, they will say that they continue to do this because the friendship and camaraderie of the team sustains them and makes the learning enjoyable. They are essentially covering an entire academic curriculum on top of the regular coursework they take in high school, but they do it for the challenge and the joy of learning, and for the lifelong friendships they build.
On a recent weekend, 65 students from Southeast high schools competed in the Southeast Regional Academic Decathlon Tournament, held in Ketchikan on Dec. 1-2. Juneau students did exceptionally well. Six JDHS decathletes placed in the top ten of the entire competition. For this to happen, students needed to be consistently high scorers in multiple subjects: essay writing, literature, art, history, music, science, math and economics; additionally, they needed to score high in their speeches and interviews. All JDHS decathletes placed in the top 10 in one or more competitive event.
Alex Eagan — First place overall in the tournament; first place in math, first in science; second in economics, second in music, third in science, second in art; eighth in essay
Gillian Smith — Second place overall in the tournament; first place in art; second in literature; fourth in social science; fourth in music; fifth in economics, fifth in science, fifth in math; seventh in speech
River Reyes-Boyer — Fourth place overall in the tournament; first place in interview; second in art; second in science; third in music; fourth in speech; sixth in economics; seventh in math; eighth in literature
Claire Engstrom — Sixth place overall in the tournament; second place in art; second in speech; third in literature; seventh in music; eighth in math
Theo Houck — Eight place overall in the tournament; third place in essay; third in music; fourth in math; fourth in art; seventh in economics
Nicole Mannix — Tenth place overall in the tournament; first place in essay; sixth in speech; seventh in math; eighth in music; ninth in art; ninth in literature
Janessa Goodman —First place in speech; seventh in art; seventh in economics; eighth in literature; eighth in music; tenth in math
Kaitlyn Rapp — Sixth place in science; sixth in essay; seventh in math; eighth in music; ninth in literature
Ramiro Garcia — Fifth place in literature; seventh in math; tenth in music; tenth in science
Ethan Gilbert — Tenth place in interview
Many thanks go out to their parents who kindly drive their students to our weekly Saturday study sessions. My eternal gratitude to Jeff Short and Wendy Whelan, who share the work of coaching and teaching. If anyone is interested in more information about acadeca, please email Karina Reyes: karina.reyes@juneauschools.org.
