RHS, VHS Students To Battle in North Bay Academic Decathlon

FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CA — Super Bowl LIV isn't the only huge competition happening this weekend. Students from Rodriguez High School and Vanden High School are among 300 students from 15 high schools across six Northern California counties preparing to battle it out Saturday in the North Bay Region's Academic Decathlon at Solano Community College in Fairfield.

The two teams representing Fairfield-Suisun USD and Travis USD, respectively, are set to compete against teams from Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties in an event modeled after the Olympics but to stimulate academic achievement and honor "athletes of the mind."

The competition provides students the opportunity to participate in an educational forum, which fosters a deep respect for knowledge, cooperation and self-esteem. The theme of this year’s Academic Decathlon contest is "In Sickness and in Health: An Exploration of Illness and Wellness."

In addition to the teams from Rodriguez and Vanden high schools, teams from the following schools and districts are participating in this year's competition:

• American Canyon High School of Napa Valley USD
• Dixon High School of Dixon USD
• Casa Grande High School and Petaluma High School of Petaluma City Schools District
• Buckingham Charter High School of Vacaville USD
• Jesse Bethel High School, MIT Academy and Vallejo High School of Vallejo City USD
• Maria Carrillo High School of Santa Rosa City Schools District
• Davis Senior High School of Davis Joint USD
• Upper Lake High School of Upper Lake USD
• Willits High School of Willits USD
• River City High School of Washington USD

"I am excited to see Academic Decathlon growing in our county and region," said Ken Scarberry, Solano County Office of Education Program Director of Youth Development. "Students deserve tremendous credit and praise for their teamwork, dedication and work ethic in representing their schools at the North Bay Regional Academic Decathlon Competition."

This year's regional decathlon involves three days of competition, two of which already took place. The first day of competition was Dec. 10, 2019, and featured an online essay writing competition. The second day was Saturday, Jan. 25, and featured online testing at various schools throughout Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties. Tests included: Art, Economics, Literature, Mathematics, Music, Science and Social Science.

Saturday marks the final day of competition, and will feature speeches and interviews in the morning followed by the popular Super Quiz—the only event open to the public (other than the awards ceremony) at 3:30 p.m. in the Solano Community College gymnasium, 4000 Suisun Valley Road in Fairfield.

The North Bay teams advancing to the California Academic Decathlon — scheduled for March 26-29 in Sacramento — are to be announced at 5:15 p.m. Saturday in an awards ceremony in the Solano Community College gym.

The winning California team will advance to the United States Academic Decathlon set for April 30-May 2 in Anchorage, Alaska.