Su Valley academic decathlon team takes fourth place among 3A schools at state competition

The Su Valley academic decathlon team recently finished fourth among 3A schools and 13th overall in the state competition. They were the only Valley school to participate in the competition.

Travis Hill and Hadassah Nelson claimed the Rams' two silver medals. Hill finished second in the scholastic division, while Nelson finished in second place in the varsity division.

Medals were not the only thing won by the Rams, though. Several scholarships were won by Su Valley students during the competition. Daveen Booth, Victoria Warner, Nansen Olson III and Latanya Odden all won $1,000 scholarships to Alaska Pacific University, while Olson and Odden also were awarded half-tuition waivers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks at the decathlon.

The academic decathlon is a 10-event competition comprised of essay writing, math, art, music, science, language and literature, speech, interview skills, economics and super quiz divisions. Each team is comprised of three students in divisions based on grade-point average - honors, 3.75-4.0; scholastic, 2.0-3.74; and varsity, up to 2.99. The top two scoring students represent the team score.

The Su Valley team was coached by David Stull. The team consisted of Booth, Warner, Odden, Jed Ellis, Nelson, Heather Horton, Ann Farina, Olson and Hill, who was the team's highest scorer. Jonathan Stull was the team manager.

Stull said he wished to thank everyone who donated money, instruction time and support to the team. The Rams almost took the 3A state title, missing by 3,200 points, out of a possible 60,000 points.