Congratulations to Rowland High School for placing fourth place in the prestigious Los Angeles County Academic Decathlon. The team competed against 34 schools from across Los Angeles County and will now advance to the state competition in March. For their hard work and dedication, the team received 26 individual medals for their performance in individual events.
“I am so proud of the commitment, hard work, and perseverance this year's team put into the program,” said Rowland High School Social Studies Teacher and Team Advisor, Matt Cole. “It was a very trying and challenging year with COVID-19 and social distancing, but the team worked together, supported each other, and stepped forward to meet the challenge. I could not have asked for a better group of decathletes. It has been a pleasure to work with them and see them grow.”
The rigorous two-day scholastic team competition is where Decathletes are challenged to use analytical skills, performance abilities and test-taking and writing aptitude in 10 events: Art, Economics, Essay, Interview, Language & Literature, Math, Music, Science, Social Science and Speech. This year was historic, with all events taking place online for the first time. This year's team members are: Ethan Chen, Noah Lim, Charlene Poon, Jocelyne Wijaya, Ethan Chen, Angela Yu, Clayton Ng, Alysia Kim, Nathania Limchitsomboon, and Kimberly Cedeno
“Despite the fact that there were many unprecedented challenges in the year 2020, the work my Academic Decathlon teammates put in, helped carry our team into state championships. Their perseverance and determination helped this team push through any obstacles we may have encountered,” said Jocelyne Wijaya.
"I’m glad I stayed another year in Academic Decathlon and worked together with my fellow teammates to place 4th in this year's competition. The decathletes that participated in summer school, but did not qualify for the official nine member team, should really consider this their victory too and I’m forever grateful for their support," said Kimberly Cedeno," said Kimberly Cedeno.
“As this is my first year in Academic Decathlon, I am simply glad to have gotten the experience of being able to compete with such hard-working individuals. The perseverance and dedication that we displayed as a collective team from this past summer leading up to the county competition has certainly paid off. It has been an honor to be part of this team, and I can’t wait for what is to come at the state competition,” said Noah Lim.
