It was a banner day for Lathrop High at Saturday’s Academic Decathlon.
The 22-member team coached by Mike and Hillary Pangburn finished third place overall (Division I) at the 43rd annual event hosted by the San Joaquin County Office of Education.
Middle College was the overall winner ahead of second-place McNair.
“It was a good day for Lathrop High,” said Mike Pangburn, whose team also took in second in the Super Quiz.
Competitors showcased their knowledge in the subject areas of Art, Economics, Literature, Math, Music, Science, and Social Science, during a series of objective tests that culminated in this high-energy event, which was followed by the awards ceremony.
This year’s theme was Technology & Humanity.
LHS finished behind first-place Middle College and runner-up Stockton Early College Academy in the Super Quiz, which included this question:
Which of the following was NOT an advantage offered by Roman Concrete?
a. Windows would not compromise the structure.
b. Concrete vaults were relatively fire-proof.
c. Concrete layers within walls were stable in earthquakes.
d. Roman concrete was impervious to water damage.
e. The material was inexpensive and easy to mix on site.
The correct answer was ‘d.’
Members of Lathrop High earned the following:
· Division I – Pia Calub, Bronze (Economics), Silver (Math), Gold (Music), Bronze (Interview); Erika Vasquez, Gold (Art), Bronze (Literature), Silver (Essay); Mariquel Burgos, Silver (Math), Silver (Interview), Bronze (Speech); Dayne Davenport, Gold (Art), Silver (Social Science), Gold (Interview), Silver (Speech), Gold (Overall-Varsity Division); Jasman Kaur, Silver (Literature), Bronze (Essay), Bronze (Interview).
· Division III – Alena Gallo, Bronze (Music & Essay), Yuvraj Dhillon, Silver (Essay), Alek Set, Bronze (Literature, Science, Essay), Ryan Boissemac, Silver (Art), Gold (Music), Gold (Essay), Bronze (overall score); Prabnoor Kaur, Silver (Art), Bronze (Economics), Silver (Literature), Bronze (Math), Bronze (Music), Silver (Essay). Alternate, Mayumi Segre, Bronze (Music).
Other local finishers consisted of Angie Mora-Berger of Sierra High taking third in Division II (Varsity) and Elise Nicole Miller of Manteca High being among three to be awarded the renewable $5,000 scholarship to the University of the Pacific.
In addition, four students from Ripon High earned medals – Giolanna Loretelli, Gold (Division I-Honors, Essay); Jonathan Salina, Silver (Division I-Honors, Interview); Jordyn Dyson, Gold (Division I-Varsity, Speech); and Ryder Downey, Silver (Division I-Varsity, Music).
