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Contact: John Anstey PhD Phone (402) 498-0798 janstey@ne-ad.org |
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Press Release
Date: Feb 15, 2010
For Immediate Release
Nebraska
High School Teams Set to
Compete at Creighton University
Seventeen Nebraska high school teams will participate
in a two day competition, February 19th & 20th to select a State Champion Team that will
advance to the National Competition in April 2010. A list of the teams that qualified
in Regional competition to compete at the State level is included below.
The Decathlon will begin Friday evening with
three subjective competitions. The speech
event is divided into prepared and impromptu sections. A three-and-a-half to four-minute long
prepared speech is delivered and rated by a three judge panel. Students are then given one minute to read
three prompts and deliver a one-and-a-half to two-minute impromptu speech that
is also graded on verbal and nonverbal delivery factors. Example
prompts have included: "It has been said about our modern times that,
'Invention is the mother of necessity.' Please discuss." & "Math
has been described as the universal language.’ Please discuss" and
"Why is light, light and dark, dark?"
In a separate interview event, participants are graded
on their response to a wide variety of questions in a formal environment. Questions like: "Who is your role model –
and why?" and "What was your favorite Academic Decathlon experience –
and why?" In the essay
event, students are given 50 minutes to write an essay responding to
one of three prompts derived from the language and literature or the Super Quiz
curriculum.
On Saturday Decathlon students will face six
30 minute objective tests on: Economics, Art, Language and Literature,
Math, Music, and Science. The Regional, State, and National events also
include a “Super Quiz” where participants are given seven seconds to
respond to questions in an auditorium setting.
Other team members, family members, coaches, and friends give the Super
Quiz a pep rally atmosphere. The overall
curriculum theme for this program year will be The French
Revolution.
The Nebraska Academic Decathlon promotes
academic growth, teamwork, and communication skills among high school students
of all achievement levels through statewide academic competitions. Each competing team includes nine students
with equal numbers of A, B, and C grade-level students. Other students prepare as alternates to
compete on their school’s team. Gold, Silver
and Bronze medals are awarded for individual events and total scores. In addition, college scholarships are earned
by all regular team members who finish in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd
place at regional competition events and in both divisions (large & small schools)
at the State final.
The Nebraska Academic Decathlon's annual operating
budget is approximately $157,000.00 to cover costs of scholarships,
recruitment, study materials, competitions and promotion. The program receives its financial support
from various foundations, businesses, service clubs and individuals.
The United States Academic Decathlon will come
to Omaha Nebraska April 21–25, 2010 for National level scholastic competition
between approximately 40 State high school Champion teams and at least one
international team. While this event may
not draw the crowds of a College World Series, the preparation and competition
will be just as intense. The event will also be a “first ever”
opportunity to visit Omaha and Nebraska for many participants, coaches, and
family members.
Media contact information:
Name: Dr. John Anstey
Title:
Executive Director
Address:
Phone number: (402) 498-0798
Email: jranstey@ne-ad.com
Web Address:
www.ne-ad.org
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Large High |
Small High |
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Alliance |
Brownell Talbot |
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Bellevue East |
Cody-Kilgore |
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Bellevue West |
Cozad |
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Creighton Prep |
Hastings St. Cecilia |
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Firth Norris |
Hyannis |
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Gretna |
Johnson |
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Omaha Burke |
Nebraska |
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Omaha Central |
Tekamah-Herman |
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Omaha North |
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