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 Polacca
— Hopi High School’s Academic Deacathlon team took first place
in the Superquiz Category at the Kingman Invitational Jan. 11.
Academic
Decathlon has students competing in seven different subject areas. The
Superquiz asks questions in all subject areas, but has one major theme
each year. The theme this year was Oceanography.
The
Academic Decathlon team from each school has a maximum of nine team members
competing at one time. The Hopi High team that won the Superquiz category
this year at Kingman was comprised of Stewart Dukepoo, Clarice Begay,
Diana John, Nicole Leonard, Carol Lee Honanie, Phylinda Selina, Jaylene
Dewakuku, Tiffany Bahnimptewa and Marlena Selina.
Lynn
Fredericks, coach of the Hopi High Academic Decathlon team, said winning
the award was a surprise for the students.
“They
didn’t even know how to act when they were called up to the stage
to get their award. They asked ‘what do you do when they congratulate
you.’ I was impressed by their performance,” Fredericks said.
Officials
congratulated the Hopi High Academic Decathlon team for winning the Superquiz
and told them the plaque would be mailed to them.
Fredericks
said winning the award was a big accomplishment.
“I’m
pretty proud. This group has really been studying hard and they improved
from last year,” she said.
Stewart
Dukepoo took second place in the essay division for an essay comparing
two art pieces.
At
the Round Valley Invite on Nov. 16, Dukepoo earned first place in the
social science division and Diana John grabbed third place in the social
science division.
Hopi
placed 14th out of 18 teams that competed at the regional Academic Decathlon
competition Feb. 1 at Sinagua High School in Flagstaff. St. Johns won
the event for the 18th straight year.
“It’s
like Hopi in cross country,” Fredericks said.
Fredericks
said the Academic Decathlon competition significantly helped the Hopi
High students with their public speaking skills. She emphasized that it
also helped them with their study skill habits for high school and these
skills will continue to help them when they go to college.
Fredericks
said Academic Decathlon was helpful with social studies this year as several
issues touched on Native Americans.
The
14th-place finish at regionals was just behind Tri-City Prep from Prescott
and Mogollon High School. But Hopi High finished ahead of Maricopa, Globe,
Flagstaff and Joseph City high schools.
For
the third year in a row, Hopi High was the only Native American school
to compete at the regional Academic Decathlon competition.
Fredericks
said she was glad that this Hopi High team was able to win awards at each
of the invites it participated in this year.
Blue
Ridge grabbed second place and Show Low took third at regionals this year.
Fredericks
said the regional competition is tough because the top three teams have
been competing for many years and remain tough to beat.
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