Academic decathlon scheduled for Saturday at Merced College

Students from 10 Merced County high schools will converge at Merced College on Saturday for the 32nd Merced County Academic Decathlon.

This year's theme is Russia, according to Merced County Office of Education.

The public is invited to attend the Super Quiz portion of the Decathlon at 3:10 p.m. and the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. in the Merced College Theater at 3600 M St.

The Academic Decathlon pits area high schools against each other in a contest of academics. Students compete in the areas of art, economics, language and literature, mathematics, music, social science and science.

High Schools participating this year are: Atwater High School, Golden Valley High School, Le Grand High School, Los Baños High School, Valley Community School, Merced, Valley Community School, Atwater, Valley Community School, Los Banos, Merced High School, Gustine High School and Buhach Colony High School.

There are also communications tests, which include essay writing, the delivery of a prepared and impromptu speech, and an oral interview.

Teams compete for awards, scholarships and a chance to represent Merced County on March 14 -17, 2013 at the State Academic Decathlon in Sacramento.

The schools pay a $750 participation fee. Of that, $500 is matched by the Merced Schools Employees Federal Credit Union’s Robert Wayne Scholarship program. This brings the scholarships to $1,000 each school. Two scholarships at $250 each and One scholarship at $500. All participating teams get awarded that in scholarship money, according to MCOE.

For more information, call Valerie LeDuc at (209) 381-5910.

-- Sun-Star staff