Arizona Academic Decathlon Association ANNUAL REPORT

Transcription

1 Arizona Academic Decathlon Association ANNUAL REPORT

2 A Message From The President Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. William Butler Yeats Arizona Academic Decathlon is an educational experience that has no parallel in high school education. More than 1,800 Arizona high school students with various abilities, of diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, from schools large and small, participate in Academic Decathlon classes or clubs around the state. These students study seven subjects: art, economics, history, literature, mathematics, music, and science, all linked to an annual theme, which for the 2013 competition was Russia. In this multidisciplinary approach, they prepare speeches, interviews, and essays that incorporate their knowledge. This yearlong endeavor, guided by dedicated teachers, sharpens students study skills, empowers them with professional communication skills, instills the values of both personal initiative and teamwork, and ignites a passion for lifelong learning. Academic Decathlon is a team competition based on individual achievement that celebrates academic achievement. Arizona Academic Decathlon has a national reputation for excellence. An Arizona team has placed in the top five at the United States Academic Decathlon competition 23 times. This year Arizona was able to send two top teams to the national competition. Red Mountain High School took sixth place overall in the country and brought home 11 individual medals from the national competition, along with Rookie of the Year status, and Canyon del Oro High School placed ninth overall with two individual medals in Minneapolis, Minn. Arizona The first-place team for Region I was Kingman Academy of Learning. Kingman Academy went on to take the 3A trophy at the state competition. Kingman Academy also represented Arizona in the USAD Medium School Online National Competition and placed fourth overall. Academic Decathlon is proud of our students who competed in the medium school and small school E-nationals : Kingman Academy placed fourth and St. Johns High School placed fourth in their respective divisions. As a parent, a retired high school educator, and a member of the history faculty at Arizona State University, I am passionate about Arizona Academic Decathlon because it provides students the opportunity to acquire knowledge on fascinating topics while learning time management, individual responsibility, and self-discipline in a collaborative setting. These are qualities that ensure success in higher education and in life. Arizona Academic Decathlon has successfully evolved from an organization that could no longer count on guaranteed state funding to one that relies on relationships with generous benefactors. We are incredibly grateful for our new partnerships with organizations such as Wells Fargo, the Helios Foundation, and the Arizona School Boards Association, as well as renewed sponsorships from Intel and SRP, and the support of many other corporations, foundations, and individuals. However, Arizona Academic Decathlon would not exist without the students and teachers who are the lifeblood of the program; the administrators who support the program at all of our schools; the sponsors who provide financial and in-kind donations; the volunteers who give so freely of their precious time; and the parents, families, and friends of our decathletes who encourage them in their success. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I can t thank you enough for your support. Sincerely, Marcie Hutchinson, President Arizona Academic Decathlon Association 2

3 What Is Academic Decathlon? The Arizona Academic Decathlon Association (AADA) is affiliated with the United States Academic Decathlon. Mission Our mission is to promote, motivate and acknowledge excellence in academic efforts and educational achievement through a program of academic competitions for high school students of all scholastic achievement levels. Goals Our goals are to encourage students to excel in academic pursuits by promoting enthusiasm for learning, developing a spirit of competition, working as a member of a team, participating in peer tutoring, undertaking interdisciplinary study, acquiring an understanding of the fine arts and increasing communication skills. AADA also strives to improve the total educational program in Arizona by promoting the importance of excellence in broad academic performance, motivating students to reach their fullest potential and establishing a positive image of students in our communities. We also encourage community and business involvement and support of academic excellence through contribution of funds, time, talent and/or materials. Program Overview An Academic Decathlon team creates a positive school image, creates academic role models, changes student attitudes, involves the community and develops future community leaders. The Decathlon experience builds skills for life: self-assurance, competitiveness, communication and teamwork. A Decathlon team is made up of three Honor students ( A grade level), three Scholastic students ( B level) and three Varsity students ( C level). All students compete in all 10 events: Mathematics, Science, Art, Music, Economics, Language & Literature, Interview, Speech, Essay and Super Quiz (Social Science). Scholarships and Awards Scholarships are awarded to students winning individual events and to overall winners. In each event, there are also gold, silver and bronze medals in each student category. There are team awards in the Super Quiz and for overall ranking. In addition, there is a small-schools division in which trophies are awarded. Scope of AADA Academic Decathlon programs are active in 40 states. More than 30,000 students compete nationwide. Eighty Arizona high schools participated in , with more than 900 students competing and more than 2,000 enrolled in the program. South Mountain High School took first place in Region II. The team went on to place eighth in the state competition. 3

4 Academic Decathlon Roundup Top 10 State Winners 2013 Participating Schools (District) 4 1. Red Mountain 2. Canyon del Oro 3. Mountain View (Mesa) 4. Mountain Pointe 5. Hamilton 6. Westwood 7. Marana 8. South Mountain 9. Prescott 10. Boulder Creek Class Champions 5A Red Mountain 4A Canyon del Oro 3A Kingman Academy 2A St. Johns 1A Gilbert Classical Academy Rookie of the Year Bioscience Most Improved Team Prescott High School Highest Individual Score Swaroon Sridhar, Mountain Pointe High School National Results Red Mountain (Mesa) finished sixth overall and fifth in the large school division, and Canyon del Oro (Tucson) finished ninth overall and second in the medium school division out of the 53 teams that competed at the USAD National Competition finals in Minneapolis, Minn., on April The theme of the competition was Russia. The Red Mountain team is coached by Brad Kaufman and Rachel Christensen, and the Canyon del Oro team is coached by Chris Yetman. REGION I (13) Alchesay Arizona School for the Arts Hopi Jr./Sr. James Madison Prep Kingman Academy of Learning Mogollon Morenci North Pointe Preparatory Payson Prescott Show Low Snowflake St. Johns REGION II (27) Alhambra Apollo Arizona Conservatory for the Arts Barry Goldwater Betty Fairfax Bioscience Boulder Creek Brophy Prep Camelback Carl Hayden Central Cesar Chavez Cortez Deer Valley Greenway Independence Maryvale Metro Tech Moon Valley Mountain Ridge North South Mountain Sunnyslope Thunderbird Trevor Brown Xavier College Preparatory Washington REGION III (17) Amphitheater Benson Buena Canyon del Oro Catalina Foothills Cibola Flowing Wells Gila Ridge Kofa Marana Mountain View (Marana) Sonoran Science Academy Sunnyside Tombstone Vista Grande Walden Grove Yuma REGION IV (20) Apache Junction Basha Campo Verde Coolidge Desert Ridge Dobson Fountain Hills Gilbert Classical Academy Hamilton Highland Marcos de Niza Mesa Mountain Pointe Mountain View (Mesa) Queen Creek Red Mountain Saguaro Seton Catholic Skyline Westwood

5 Partners and Volunteers We express our deepest gratitude to the following organizations and individuals that make AADA possible. Sponsors and Donors PRESENTING SPONSOR $50,000 Phoenix Thunderbirds/Wells Fargo Foundation HONORS $10,000 $14,999 SRP Intel Corporation SCHOLASTIC $5,000 $9,999 Arizona School Boards Association Helios Education Foundation/Ms. Jane Roig VARSITY $1,000 $4,999 USAD Grant Jeni and Steve Panhorst E.V. O Malley SCHOLAR $500 $999 Mike and Marcie Hutchinson Wayne Kirby FRIENDS OF DECATHLON $10 $499 Patty Clymer Sherwood and David Hansen Jane Parker Sharon Komar Anne Greenberg Loren Bareiss Laura Sawyer Wally Delecki 3M Foundation Albert Panhorst Amber Trumbull IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS SRP Arizona Education Association Mesa School District Arizona State University Volunteer Coordinators Competition Anne Edelstein Essay Greta Baranowski Interview Barbara Johnson State School Site Coordinator Missy Pizzo Speech Andrew Stevens and Lucas Hawthorne Super Quiz Casey Thomas Testing Judi Willis and Marcie Hutchinson Scoring Jason Burch Volunteers Anne Edelstein Region I Tom Hansen Region II Anne Edelstein and Judi Willis Region III Jamie Sheldahl Region IV Maja Aleksic, Therese Schmisseur and Tamara Kahler Canyon del Oro High School from Tucson took first place in the Super Quiz Relay at the state competition. Canyon del Oro placed second overall in the state competition and represented Arizona at the USAD National Competition, where the team placed second in its division and ninth overall. 5

6 Fiscal Year End June 30, 2012 vs Budget Arizona Academic Decathlon Association, Inc. Income Actual Budget Corporate and Private Donations... 12, ,500 Board Members... 4,, ,000 Grants Foundations/Schools... 62, ,500 School Participation Fees... 48, ,700 Interest/Dividend Income Special Events and Other Total , ,000 In-Kind Donations... 14, ,000 Program Expenses Scholarships Awarded... 21, Competition and Other Program Expenses... 40, ,400 Allocated Personnel Costs*... 52, ,700 Total...114, ,100 General and Administrative Personnel Costs... 13, ,400 Other Administrative Costs ,500 Total General and Administrative... 26, ,900 Total Costs...140, ,000 Operating Change in Net Assets... 1, The state Super Quiz Relay was held for the first time at Arizona State University West in its new Fitness Facility. Gilbert Classical Academy was the winner of the 1A Trophy at the state competition. 6

7 Arizona Academic Decathlon Board of Directors Officers President Mrs. Marcie Hutchinson ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY Vice President Ms. Barbara Johnson VERIZON WIRELESS Secretary Ms. Jeni Panhorst INTEL CORPORATION Treasurer James Wraith, CPA MANSPERGER PATTERSON & McMULLIN Executive Director Ms. Anne Edelstein STATE DIRECTOR Ms. Anita Lohr AADA FOUNDER Mr. Jason Burch, State Scoring Chair COMMUNITY MEMBER Mr. Nick Cates ALUMNI REPRESENTATIVE Mr. John Cummerford GREENBERG TRAURIG Ms. Anne Greenberg ARIZONA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION Mr. Lucas Hawthorne DATA TECHNOLOGIES Mr. Michael Hutchinson COMMUNITY MEMBER Ms. Anne Lassen, Phoenix Office UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Ms. Cindy Mallory BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ARIZONA Ms. Donna Reiner COMMUNITY MEMBER Ms. Melissa Pizzo, Undergraduate Scholarships ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY Kevin Rolfe, Community Outreach SRP Ms. Megan Stasi AEA REPRESENTATIVE Mr. Andrew Stevens CENTER FOR EXECUTIVE MEDICINE Ms. Casey Thomas, Representative ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY Ms. Amber Trumbull, Representative WELLS FARGO BANK Ms. Mindy Udall CONNOLLY MIDDLE SCHOOL Ms. Judi Willis, Public Information Officer COMMUNITY MEMBER Ms. DuGue Zion ZION AND ZION St. Johns High School from St. Johns took the 2A trophy at the state competition. St. Johns High also represented Arizona at the USAD Small School Online National Competition and placed fourth overall. Advisory Board Members Ms. Audrey Alicee, Asst. to the Provost NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY Mr. Craig Anderson AMERICAN RED CROSS Dr. Bishara Bahbah, Broker MORGAN STANLEY Ms. Barbara Barrett, President TRIPLE CREEK RANCH Dr. Walter Delecki NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY Mr. Robert Gramhill, Vice President ALLIANCE BANK OF ARIZONA Mr. Thomas Hansen, Vice President TUCSON ELECTRIC POWER Mr. Tom Horne SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION Mr. Wayne Kirby RETIRED SRP Mr. Andrew Morrill, President ARIZONA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION Ms. Patricia Refo, Attorney SNELL & WILMER Mr. Tom Tyree, Superintendent YUMA COUNTY SCHOOLS 7

8 Academic Decathlon Theme The theme for the Academic Decathlon is World War I. Students in Arizona have already started preparing for the 2014 competition. The 2014 regional competitions will be held on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at four sites: Region I at Payson High School; Region II at Maryvale High School; Region III at Walden Grove High School; and Region IV at Corona del Sol High School. The state competition will be held on March 7 8 at ASU West. The national competition will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii, on April 24 26, Photos courtesy of Duke Photography Red Mountain High School from Mesa won the First Place Team Award at the state competition for the first time, along with taking first place at the Region IV competition. Red Mountain went on to represent Arizona at the USAD National Competition in Minneapolis, Minn., placing sixth overall in the competition and taking the Rookie of the Year Award. Arizona Academic Decathlon Association 6010 North 10th Way Phoenix, AZ (voice) (fax) azacdec@cox.net Printing courtesy of