UPDATE
Pearce senior Caroline Mulry finished first overall in state.
Berkner’s Sydney Banks earned silver in speech and bronze in art; Jonathon Murrell earned a gold medal in science and silver in economics; Harry Coulter earned a silver in economics and silver in science and gold in team scholastic; Tera Skinner earned a silver in music and gold in art; Arden Twiss earned gold in team varsity; and Alexis Mathew earned gold in team.
Funmi Oshodi, Kyle Palmer and Nicolas Duarte contributed to the Berkner’s team silver in Superquiz.
Richardson High School’s Zuhan Ashroff-Khan won a gold medal in interview while Brooke Jaye took gold in speech. Luke Ahlemeier captured a bronze medal in literature and Carm Ochoa Keith received a bronze medal in essay.
AcDec Teams Advance to State Finals
Three RISD AcDec teams advanced to the state finals after scoring among the highest of the 238 Academic Decathlon teams across Texas that competed during the last weekend in January. RISD has had a team reach the state finals every year of the Texas AcDec competition.
“Academic Decathlon helps students develop a work ethic and to think critically in a range of disciplines leading to a global perspective integral to success in today’s society,” RISD Director of Advanced Learning Programs and Services Monica Simonds said. “Students develop professional and interpersonal skills that lead to life-long friendships.”
Richardson High School will compete in the state competition in San Antonio on Feb. 25-26. RHS finished third overall among the large schools in the regionals to advance to the state finals for the 10th straight year.
Pearce and Berkner will compete in the Tier 2 competition in Frisco on Feb. 25-26. There are 30 schools that will contend in the Tier 2 state finals, which includes AcDec teams from smaller schools and teams from large schools that scored high but finished just outside the top 40.
Coach Sarah Beaudrie said this marks the 37th consecutive year the Pearce AcDec team has advanced to the state competition. Pearce won the national title in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1991. Lake Highlands High School won the AcDec national championship in 1990.
Pearce senior Caroline Mulry was the highest scoring RISD competitor, finishing second overall in Region 10 with six individual medals. Pearce senior Ella Morrison finished fifth in the scholastic division with five individual medals, and RHS senior Abby Smith finished fourth overall in the scholastic division with five medals, as well. Berkner’s Arden Twiss finished fifth overall in the varsity division.
Congratulations to all the AcDec students, teachers, coaches, and parents! #RISDGreatness
