Seward High Begins Academic Decathlon State Competition with “Cold War” Essay Contest
The Seward High Academic Decathlon Team qualified for the State Finals in the Nebraska Academic Decathlon program in the Large School Division. The Nebraska Academic Decathlon state contest has begun-all virtually this year, due to Covid-19. The SHS Academic Decathlon team is competing both as a team and with individual scores in various areas of academic divisions including contests in Essay, Speech, Interview, Math, Science, Economics, Literature, Music, Art and Social Science-History-with all information centering on this year’s theme-“The Cold War.” Each student was also asked to read the “Cold War” novel “Cat’s Cradle” by Kurt Vonnegut Junior. The essay contest was the first in a series of virtual testing.
SHS students participating in the State AD Contest include Elizabeth Gokie, Emily Gokie, Miriam Voehl, Hannah Kolterman-Wagner, Cole Gray, Isaiah VanBeek, Tyler Calway, and Braden Adams. The students all take the same tests but compete only with students with their grade point average. Their coach/sponsor is Noelle Baker and funded by the Seward High Ability Learner Program for the School District of Seward and the Seward Optimist Club.
The students started the contest with the Academic Decathlon Essay Competition on Tuesday, February 02, 2021 at 2:00 pm in the SHS Media Center. At the contest, the students were presented with three different writing prompts in the area of literature, history and music during the “Cold War.” The students could not use any outside resources and had 55 minutes to complete the essay on one of the prompts. They now will compete on Friday evening Feb. 19th in the area of live speeches-zooming a four minute speech to their judge, and a personal zoomed interview-in professional apparel.
On Saturday, February 20th, the team will compete with the formal virtual tests in the area of Math, Science, Social Science-History, Music, Art, Literature-featuring the “Cold War” novel by Kurt Vonnegut’s “Cat’s Cradle” and Economics-all in connection with the theme of “The Cold War.” All tests on Saturday are on line.
The results will be announced, with the top team representing Nebraska at the National Academic Decathlon competition. Medals will be awarded to individuals with the top score on each test, and the top team member score will be recognized as well. Seward competes in the Large School Division and also competes with all the school finalists for the top prize.
PHOTO: The SHS State Academic Decathlon Team competitors begin their virtual testing in the Nebraska Academic Decathlon program L-R Front Row- Elizabeth Gokie, Emily Gokie, Miriam Voehl, Hannah Kolterman-Wagner, BR L-R Noelle Baker-Coach, Cole Gray, Isaiah VanBeek, Tyler Calway, and Braden Adams.