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Students Win Medals at 29th Annual Academic Decathlon

Bella Vista High Advances to State Finals; Folsom High Also Qualifies

Bella Vista students with trophy and champion banner

First place team Bella Vista celebrates. Bella Vista and second place Folsom High School will both advance to compete in the California Academic Decathlon this year, March 13–16.

Posted February 12, 2009

Individual and team winners of the 29th Annual Sacramento County Academic Decathlon (held February 7 at Inderkum High School) have been announced by Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon. Modeling their efforts after the Olympic Decathlon, more than 300 local students competed for awards in 10 demanding academic events: Mathematics, Art, Music, Language/Literature, Economics, Science, Essay, Speech, Interview, and Super Quiz. Contestants represented 22 schools in Sacramento County. Two local high schools will advance to state finals.

Following is a listing of top scorers honored February 11 at the Academic Decathlon Awards Banquet presented by the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) at the Radisson Hotel Sacramento. KCRA Channel 3 Anchor and Political Reporter Kevin Riggs served as emcee of the awards banquet. Students received gold, silver, or bronze medals for their efforts. SAFE Credit Union provided $10,000 in scholarships to be distributed among top-scoring students.

Twenty-two Sacramento County high schools each sent teams comprised of three Honors students (those with "A" grade averages), three Scholastic ("B") students, and three Varsity ("C") students to compete February 7 in the day-long 29th Annual Sacramento County Academic Decathlon. The event represented months of study by over 300 students. The theme of this year's Academic Decathlon was "Latin America." Bella Vista High School and Folsom High School will both advance to compete in the California Academic Decathlon March 13-16, 2009 in Sacramento. The Sacramento County Academic Decathlon is conducted by staff and volunteers of SCOE.

Sacramento County schools earning the most overall points:

Gold Medal Winners

  • CHARLES DIAMOND, Bella Vista High School
  • ALEX BULLEN, Folsom High School
  • AUSTIN KIDWELL, Bella Vista High School

Silver Medal Winners

  • CHRISTIAN FONG, Franklin High School
  • CHRIS BRAINERD, Folsom High School
  • RYAN LESSARD, Bella Vista High School

Bronze Medal Winners

  • ROHIT TALREJA, Folsom High School
  • DEVON BROWN, Bella Vista High School
  • SPENCER HAYES, Bella Vista High School

School with "most improved" score from prior year:

  • Franklin High School
Sarah Blackwell-Simon speaking

Sarah Blackwell-Simon from Rosemont High School (first place in the Speech competition) delivers her speech at the Awards Banquet.

Hannah Jolly speaking

Hannah Jolly from Center High School (second place in the Speech ​competition) delivers her speech.

Charles Diamond speaking

Charles Diamond from Bella V​ista High School (third place in the Spee​ch competition) delivers his speech.

David W. Gordon and Henry Wirz

County Superintendent David W. Gordon (left) recognizes SAFE Credit Union President/CEO, Henry Wirz. SAFE Credit Union provided $10,000 in scholarships to be distributed among top-scoring students.