Winning students to represent state at nationals

Sam Barlow High School won the 2010 Oregon Academic Decathlon on February 20. The academic decathlon is considered the nation’s premiere scholastic competition for high school students. It was held at Western Oregon University in Monmouth.

This is the first time Sam Barlow High School has won the event. The eight-member team was led by science teacher Tai Quirke. Students Nathanael Franks, Mike Potts, Mike Mata, Mikayla Hooser, Kylie Rogers, Elise Lagerstrom, Katherine Joseph, and Abram Dorrough will now go on to represent the state of Oregon at the national championship in Nebraska.

“Barlow High School’s decathlon team studied for countless hours on their own time—during lunch and after school,” said team coach Tai Quirke. “They showed an incredible commitment to learning and I am extremely proud of them.”

Academic decathlon team members also compete in 10 individual events: essay, speech, interview, mathematics, science, economics, social studies, language & literature, art and music around a unique theme. In the individual events, the students took home seven gold, seven silver and 11 bronze medals. As a team, the Barlow students posted the highest score in an oral exam on the competition’s theme for 2010—the French Revolution.

The 2010 United States Academic Decathlon is set for April 21-24 in Omaha, Nebraska.