Team advances to California competition

WESTMINSTER, Calif. ― The team representing La Quinta High School from the Garden Grove Unified School District captured first place in Division 2 at the 44^th Annual Orange County Academic Decathlon (OCAD) competition. The school won the top prize in Division 3 last year.

La Quinta’s students, coached by English teacher Robert Ha, led in final point totals followed in the division by Marina High, Oxford Academy, Fountain Valley High and Tustin High. Due to its high score – third overall among all schools – the team will advance to the California Academic Decathlon, scheduled for March 15-18 in Sacramento. It also will receive $2,000 to help offset travel expenses.

The OCAD team members from La Quinta are Bao Minh Hoang, Hung Nguyen, Dan Phan, Kimberly Vu, Alison Le, Johnson Pham, Cindy Tran, Jennifer Vu and Wendy Fung.

At the two-day competition, decathletes from Orange County public and private high schools take written tests in math, language and literature, social science, science, music, art, and economics; write an essay; participate in an interview; and deliver a prepared and an impromptu speech. The highlight of the competition is the Super Quiz relay, the only part of the competition open to spectators.

Each nine-member team in the three divisions of competition includes three “A” students, three “B” students, and three “C” students. Participating schools are placed in divisions as determined by their average scores from previous OCAD contests.

Valencia High School of Placentia won the Overall Team Award and also moves on to the state finals.

The Academic Decathlon program, now the premier scholastic competition in the country, began in Orange County 44 years ago and was pioneered by Dr. Robert Peterson, former Orange County superintendent of schools. The OCAD program is sponsored by the nonprofit Orange County Academic Decathlon Association and is coordinated by the Orange County Department of Education.