For the fifth year in a row Oak Ridge High School decathletes took home the first-place El Dorado County Academic Decathlon title with Ponderosa High School coming in second.
With a 30-plus-year history of academic competition in El Dorado County students, coaches and El Dorado County Office of Education staff did not let the adversity of 2020 stand in the way of participating in the 2021 competition. And so, the 2021 academic decathlon awards were presented to students and teams in a virtual ceremony Feb. 10.
California State Superintendent of Public Education Tony Thurmond gave remarks in a pre-recorded message at the top of the ceremony thanking students for the extra efforts they put into this “most important event.”
El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ed Manansala also thanked those involved. “I am proud of the commitment and dedication of the decathletes and their coaches competing here today,” Manansala said. “I would also like to acknowledge the many EDCOE team members, coaches and community volunteers involved. This is truly a community event celebrating the very best of education in El Dorado County.”
Manansala then introduced the first presenter of the evening, El Dorado County Sheriff John D’Agostini, who praised the students for their efforts. “I want to absolutely congratulate the decathletes for overcoming what you have to be here today. It is an honor to present these [medals] to you.” He announced the medalists in the categories of social science and science.
El Dorado Union High School District Board Clerk Lori Veerkamp recognized the challenges the students overcame to be there before awarding medals in mathematics and music. “I know this year has been a very trying, very challenging year. But all of you have stepped forward and done what you always do and shined and done your best.”
El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson also praised the decathletes’ achievements, saying, “We appreciate you so much — not only your academic achievement but your achievements at a time of such adversity. We really do.” Pierson awarded medals in economics and language/literature.
Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services El Dorado Union High School District Chris Moore was the next presenter who spoke of the inspirational nature of his connection to the event. “To all the students out there, I want to let you know you’re really an inspiration to me,” he shared. “Your desire to learn more and go beyond just class learning and pursue a thematic based academic competition actually inspired me to start learning more about history during this pandemic.” In the fashion of a play-by-play announcer, Moore revealed the medalists in the art and interview categories.
EDCOE Communications Director Dina Gentry announced the medalists in the essay category. Ponderosa student Aaris Wood gave a reading of the highest-scoring essay, one he wrote on the topic of Mikhail Gorbachev’s 1988 address to the UN General Assembly regarding the global outlook of socialism.
El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Dylan Sullivan presented the speech medalists. She reflected on what living through this time might mean to the students in the future. “Because you have experienced this pandemic when you are adults and when you are leading the world you are going to recognize that this part of your experience will help you.”
Anica Terbijhe of Union Mine recited her speech on the subject of being a twin, which earned her the high-scoring speech medal.
Dr. Manansala presented the alternate medals, overall high scores and overall team winners before he closed the evening extolling the decathletes’ hard work and perseverance. “We are inspired by all you have done this year in some of the most incredibly challenging times.”
The full list of Academic Decathlon medalists appears below. Decathletes will receive their physical medals at a later date.
Social Science
Varsity
Bronze: Kristofer Mickelson, Oak Ridge
Silver: Jackson Barnes, El Dorado
Gold: Timothy Studebaker, Oak Ridge
Scholastic
Bronze: Aiden Jahangiri, Oak Ridge
Silver: Cole Johnson, Oak Ridge
Gold: Saumya Chandra, Oak Ridge
Honors
Bronze: Nathan Fichtner, Ponderosa
Silver: Ryleigh Praker, Union Mine
Silver: Aleena Rafiq, Oak Ridge
Gold: Aaris Wood, Ponderosa
Science
Varsity
Bronze: Shivani Padiyar, Ponderosa
Silver: Kristofer Mickelson, Oak Ridge
Gold: Timothy Studebaker, Oak Ridge
Scholastic
Bronze: Aiden Jahangiri, Oak Ridge
Silver: Cole Johnson, Oak Ridge
Gold: Saumya Chandra, Oak Ridge
Honors
Bronze: Aaris Wood, Ponderosa
Silver: Aleena Rafiq, Oak Ridge
Gold: Adam Hurst, Oak Ridge
Mathematics
Varsity
Bronze: Cory Rodriguez-Meador, Ponderosa
Silver: Aiko Rodriguez-Meador, Ponderosa
Gold: Timothy Studebaker, Oak Ridge
Scholastic
Bronze: Cole Johnson, Oak Ridge
Silver: Aiden Jahangiri, Oak Ridge
Gold: Saumya Chandra, Oak Ridge
Honors
Bronze: Aaris Wood, Ponderosa
Silver: Aleena Rafiq, Oak Ridge
Gold: Karan Derebail, Ponderosa
Music
Varsity
Bronze: Shivani Padiyar, Ponderosa
Silver: Kristofer Mickelson, Oak Ridge
Silver: Jackson Barnes, El Dorado
Gold: Timothy Studebaker, Oak Ridge
Scholastic
Bronze: Cole Johnson, Oak Ridge
Silver: Aiden Jahangiri, Oak Ridge
Gold: Saumya Chandra, Oak Ridge
Honors
Bronze: Karan Derebail, Ponderosa
Silver: Ryleigh Praker, Union Mine
Gold: Aaris Wood, Ponderosa
Economics
Varsity
Bronze: Shivani Padiyar, Ponderosa
Silver: Jackson Barnes, El Dorado
Gold: Timothy Studebaker, Oak Ridge
Scholastic
Bronze: Cole Johnson, Oak Ridge
Silver: Aiden Jahangiri, Oak Ridge
Gold: Saumya Chandra, Oak Ridge
Honors
Bronze: Nathan Fichtner, Ponderosa
Silver: Adam Hurst, Oak Ridge
Gold: Aaris Wood, Ponderosa
Language/Literature
Varsity
Bronze: Jackson Barnes, El Dorado
Silver: Shivani Padiyar, Ponderosa
Gold: Timothy Studebaker, Oak Ridge
Scholastic
Bronze: Aiden Jahangiri, Oak Ridge
Silver: Cole Johnson, Oak Ridge
Gold: Saumya Chandra, Oak Ridge
Honors
Bronze: Karan Derebail, Ponderosa
Bronze: Ryleigh Praker, Union Mine
Silver: Aleena Rafiq, Oak Ridge
Gold: Aaris Wood, Ponderosa
Art
Varsity
Bronze: Jackson Barnes, El Dorado
Silver: Shivani Padiyar, Ponderosa
Gold: Timothy Studebaker, Oak Ridge
Scholastic
Bronze: Alyssa Seeley, Ponderosa
Silver: Saumya Chandra, Oak Ridge
Gold: Cole Johnson, Oak Ridge
Honors
Bronze: Nathan Fichtner, Ponderosa
Silver: Karan Derebail, Ponderosa
Gold: Aaris Wood, Ponderosa
Gold: Ryleigh Praker, Union Mine
Interview
Varsity
Bronze: Jackson Barnes, El Dorado
Silver: Shivani Padiyar, Ponderosa
Gold: Timothy Studebaker, Oak Ridge
Scholastic
Bronze: Lillian Ross, Ponderosa
Silver: Nicholas Turner-Miller, El Dorado
Silver: Kathryn Sarlatte, El Dorado
Gold: Ariana Terbijhe, Union Mine
Honors
Bronze: Lucas Johnston, El Dorado
Bronze: Anirvin Bommaraju, Oak Ridge
Silver: Nathan Fichtner, Ponderosa
Gold: Adam Hurst, Oak Ridge
Essay
Varsity
Bronze: Shivani Padiyar, Ponderosa
Silver: Jackson Barnes, El Dorado
Gold: Timothy Studebaker, Oak Ridge
Scholastic
Bronze: Alyssa Seeley, Ponderosa
Silver: Cole Johnson, Oak Ridge
Gold: Saumya Chandra, Oak Ridge
Honors
Bronze: Ryleigh Praker, Union Mine
Silver: Adam Hurst, Oak Ridge
Gold: Aaris Wood, Ponderosa
Highest Scoring Essay – El Dorado County
Aaris Wood, Ponderosa
Speech
Varsity
Bronze: Kristofer Mickelson, Oak Ridge
Silver: Aiko Rodriguez-Meador, Ponderosa
Gold: Timothy Studebaker, Oak Ridge
Scholastic
Bronze: Melody Gonzalez, Ponderosa
Silver: Aiden Jahangiri, Oak Ridge
Gold: Anica Terbijhe, Union Mine
Honors
Bronze: Aleena Rafiq, Oak Ridge
Silver: Ryleigh Praker, Union Mine
Gold: Nathan Fichtner, Ponderosa
High Scoring Speech
Anica Terbijhe, Union Mine
Overall Score 8-Event Alternate
Bronze: Elise Wu, Oak Ridge
Silver: William Smith, Oak Ridge
Gold: Valerie Xu, Oak Ridge
Highest Scoring 10-Event Alternate
Zachary Hilliker, Ponderosa
Individual Highest Scores
Bronze: Aleena Rafiq, Oak Ridge
Silver: Ryleigh Praker, Union Mine
Gold: Aaris Wood, Ponderosa