Contact: John Anstey PhD

Phone (402) 498-0798

janstey@aol.com

2175 N 124th Ave. Circle

Omaha, NE  68164

 

Date: Jan 6, 2010

For Immediate Release

Another “Road to Omaha”

“You may now open your test booklet and begin the exam.”   That instruction will be heard at 9:00am on January 16th in seven locations around the State.   At that moment, several hundred students will officially begin the competitions to determine who will represent Nebraska in the National finals next April.

The United States Academic Decathlon will come to Omaha Nebraska 21–25 April, 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. 

The Academic Decathlon® was first created by Dr. Robert Peterson, former Superintendent of Schools in Orange County, California. Firmly believing that everyone's learning potential can be maximized through competitive challenge, Dr. Peterson set in motion the contest that has since come to be recognized as the most prestigious high school academic team competition in the United States. The program spread rapidly throughout the states due to the success and excitement it engendered. USAD was founded in 1981.  Nebraska joined this national endeavor in 1983.  

The Nebraska Academic Decathlon promotes academic growth, teamwork, and communication skills among high school students of all achievement levels through statewide academic competitions.  41 teams around the State of Nebraska have been organizing and studying  since the beginning of the 2009-10 school year. More than 800 high school students will invest over 70,000 extra study hours in preparation for regional competition on January 16th and state level competitions will take place February 20-21, 2010 at Creighton University.  Approximately two hundred teachers (coaches) will expend over 38,000 hours guiding and assisting team members.  In addition hundreds of volunteers will spend thousands of hours conducting the various competitions. 

At the regional level, each competing team includes six 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.

Students are tested in ten separate areas: Economics, Art, Language and Literature, Math, Music, Science, Speech, Interview and Essay. 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 Academic Decathlon is an approved activity by the National Association of Secondary School Administrators and the Nebraska Academic Decathlon Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization.  Nebraska Optimist Clubs and Creighton University sponsor this statewide program. 

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.

Media contact information:

Name: Dr. John Anstey

Title:    Executive Director

Address: 2175 N 124th Ave. Circle

                Omaha, NE  68164

Phone number: (402) 498-0798

Email: jranstey@aol.com

Web Address:   www.ne-ad.org

Jan 16, 2010 Regional Locations – see following page

 2010 Nebraska Academic Decathlon

Regional Competition Locations

 

 

Bellevue East High School
1401 High School Dr
Bellevue, NE 68005
Phone: (402) 293-4150

 

Daniel J Gross High School
7700 South 43rd Street,
Bellevue, NE 68147
Phone: (402) 734-2000

 

Hyannis High School
East Hwy 2
Hyannis, NE 69350
Phone: (308) 458-2202

 

Lexington Middle School

1100 North Washington Street
Lexington, NE 68850-1333
(308) 324-7707

 

Bryan High School
4700 Giles Rd,
Omaha, NE 68157
Phone: (402) 557-3100

 

Nebraska Wesleyan University

5000 Saint Paul Avenue
Lincoln, NE 68504-2794
(402) 466-2371

 

Midland Lutheran College

900 North Clarkson

Fremont, Nebraska 68025

800-642-8382

 

 

Press Release submitted by:

 

Bill

 

Bill Hutto

923 Bayberry Dr.

Bellevue, NE 68005

(402) 250-1642

Bill.hutto@cox.net