Members of the Jefferson Academic Decathlon team continue to practice after winning state title.

10/9/2009
Written By: Unknown
Category: Academics  
School(s): Cedar Rapids Jefferson  

For the 12th time in 13 years, Jefferson High School has won the large-school division of the state Academic Decathlon competition. Academic Decathlon is a national scholastic and scholarship competition for high schools that involves the study of 10 curriculum areas: music, art, mathematics, social science, economics, language and literature, super quiz, essay, public speaking, and personal interview.

At the state competition, the Jefferson team earned 43,474 of a possible 60,000 points. A team from Washington High School placed fifth with 34,058 points. Kennedy High School also participated in the state competition.

Individually, in the varsity category, Jefferson team member Thomas Shatzer, senior, earned the top individual score, accumulating 8,424 points out of a possible 10,000. Shatzer set a new overall state record for the top individual score in the scholastic category. Other team members are seniors Maureen Usher, Julie Gudenkauf, Jackson Cover, Ryan Marling, Clint Downey, Zac Mickelson, and Ben Schwartzoff; and junior Braden Hopkins.

The Jefferson team will now advance to the national competition in April, set for Memphis, Tennessee. The Jefferson High School Academic Decathlon team is coached by John Wojtowicz.

“The Academic Decathlon competition was developed nationally over 30 years ago to challenge students to excel in all areas of education from standardized test taking to the fine arts to speech and writing,” noted Wojtowicz. “It has become the premiere academic competition in the nation. The Jefferson students have been preparing since last summer for this competition, often working an extra three to five hours a day after school and other commitments.”