SHS Competes/Represents Nebraska at National Academic Decathlon-“On Line” Contest

May 03, 2016

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Eight SHS Seniors represented Seward High as the Nebraska Academic Decathlon Medium School State Champions in the Academic Decathlon National Competition for medium schools at the SHS Library in an all day contest involving individual testing in six categories in the national Academic Decathlon program on Friday, April 29th. Students representing Seward included Will Brown, Will Helmer, Ben Galusha,  Dylan Duer, Bryson Schluckebier,  Katrina Bergantzel, Adam Siebrandt and Hannah Wallace.  Contest results are pending.

The tests for the national contest were on the subjects of Math, Science, Economics, Language and Literature featuring the novel “Nectar n a Sieve” by Kamala Markandaya and Art and Music. The national contest again included all of the same topics for tests and except essay, prepared speech, impromptu speaking and the interview. 

 The overall theme for the testing event was “India”!  The students all took the same tests during the day; however they competed only with other students with their same grade point averages and were divided in to categories of Honor (A) grade point averages, Scholastic (B) grade point averages and Varsity (C) grade point averages in their core classes only.  Only the regular members competed, no alternates participated in this event.

Clark Kolterman serves as their team sponsor and coach along with SHS Concordia University student teacher, Stephanie Shearer of Arapahoe, NE.  Craig Williams served as the official proctor for the tests, as the coaches were not allowed to participate in any way during the testing.

The team is sponsored and funded by the School District of Seward, the Seward High Ability Learner program (HAL) and the Seward Optimist Club.  The Seward Optimist Club also donated special SHS Academic Decathlon tee shirts for each member of the SHS Academic Decathlon team.

There are four categories/divisions in the Nebraska Academic Decathlon program including Large, Medium, Small and Very Small schools.  Seward High is in the Medium school division with York, Lexington, Alliance, Beatrice, Omaha Daniel Gross, Omaha Skutt High and Seward. Omaha Gross placed first in the Medium School division and Seward placed second at the regionals and went on to capture the Medium School Championship at the State Contest in Omaha at Creighton University.  Only one of the winning schools at State competes “live” at the national contest and it is Lincoln Pius X in the large school division, with the overall top score!