Wilmington Teen Wins National Logo Contest

(Editor's note: The following information was submitted by Austin Prep.)

Austin Preparatory School's Andrew Baker, of Wilmington, is this year’s winner of the United States Academic Decathlon National Logo Contest. 

The United States Academic Decathlon (USAD) is an annual high school academic competition organized by a nonprofit organization of the same name. High school chapters compete on local and state levels, with the chance to advance on to the national competition.

Andrew’s design is being used in advertising campaigns across the country as the USAD promotes its national competition in Minneapolis, MN from April 25 to 27. It is also posted on the organization’s website, which may be viewed here:

http://usad.org/competition/logo_contest_winner.asp 

The theme of this year’s competition is Russia, which means participants will have to answer questions in 10 categories (such as literature, art, economics, etc.) with a focus on Russia. 

Andrew’s design incorporates the skyline of Minneapolis and the city’s logo, as well as recognizable Russian icons, such as the Moscow Ballet and the hammer & sickle. Andrew also translated the competition’s title into Russian. 

As a member of Austin Prep’s Academic Decathlon team, Andrew said he was inspired to enter the contest after searching online for a more comprehensive Academic Decathlon study guide. 

Andrew received a small cash prize for his efforts and, in addition, all the members of Austin Prep’s Academic Decathlon team will receive a T-shirt featuring his winning design. 

Austin Prep’s Academic Decathlon is having an excellent year, taking third place in the Massachusetts State Academic Decathlon recently. This is the third time in the school’s history the team placed among the Top 3 in the state! 

Austin students won a total of 10 medals – the second most of the 15 schools competing on the state level. The team also took second place in the Team Relay Super Quiz. 

The topic for this year’s categories involved all things Russian – history, economics, literature, music, art, and the Space Race in science; math was just math. 

The team members who competed were: Andrew Baker ’14, Michaela Barry ’13, Ryan Burke ’13, Dana Chaykovsky ’13, Grace Ferri ’14, Michael Gannon ’14, Lauren Lamonica ’14, Oliver Mesmer ’13, and Alexia Teofilovici ’13. 

Earning medals for Austin Prep were:

Andrew Baker ’14: Music Bronze Medal & Art Bronze Medal

Ryan Burke ’13: Interview Silver Medal

Grace Ferri ’14: Math Gold Medal & Interview Silver Medal

Michael Gannon ’14: Economics Bronze Medal, Science Silver Medal & Individual Total Score Bronze Medal

Lauren Lamonica ’14: Interview Bronze Medal

Alexia Teofilovici ’13: Interview Gold Medal 

Additionally, Michaela Barry ’13 was awarded the Silver Coaches Medal for her contributions to the club this year by team Coaches David Gramling and Edward MacKenzie ’99, both social studies teachers.