Rigor, Competition, and Rewards!

By Wanda Sommers Nielsen

It’s not very often that teachers, administrators, community members, or parents are able to witness the results of instruction and personal interaction with high school students. As a past, yet surviving teacher of middle and high school students, past director of a county-wide youth leadership program, and the “current” mother of twin teenage daughters it is on the rare occasion that you actually see the impact of your efforts.
But…once in a while you see the proverbial “light go on,” notice something incredible, or hear a story that gives you that “ah ha” and you know you’re on the right path. As the State Director of the Minnesota Academic Decathlon program I’ve seen, heard and experienced some incredible “ah ha’s.”

What is Academic Decathlon? Academic Decathlon is a ten event scholastic competition for teams of high school students. There are seven multiple-choice exams which include: Art, Economics, Language and Literature, Mathematics, Music, and Social Science, and Science. The Super Quiz event includes an oral relay portion in addition to the written exam which is derived from one of the areas of study listed above. Students also participate in an Essay exam and are judged in Speech and Interview. Each team consists of nine students: three “A” or Honor students, three “B” or Scholastic students, and three “C” or Varsity students. At the local level, schools are encouraged to have more than one team. Many schools throughout the country have Academic Decathlon classes.

This past competition season Joy Keachie, an Academic Decathlon coach, told me a wonderful story about a student on her Academic Decathlon team. Here is her story: “Steve Anderson, one of our Varsity students and second year team member, was really blown away by his gold medal in Science! His science teacher told her Steve had brought the medal to school the next day, showed his science teacher the medal and thanked him saying, ‘most of what I knew on that test was what I learned from you these past two years.’ (No offense to his coach intended, I'm sure.) The real heartwarming part of story is that Steve had repeated 7th grade, most likely due to the emotional stress of almost losing his sister in a car accident. Then his bother died last year in an accident. His confidence in school had been shattered, but the social opportunity of Academic Decathlon was a draw for him. He is valued in the group and has begun valuing himself, too. His grades and social connections have improved dramatically. Thank you again, Minnesota Academic Decathlon, for facilitating this opportunity for teens to grow together intellectually and emotionally.”

I know one thing, it is you— the teachers, parents, administrators, and especially the students, who make this program what it is….an opportunity to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Thank you!