US Academic Decathlon is Coming to Phoenix

By Steve Broe

Fellow Mensans –
The Diamondbacks were great. Never before in Arizona’s history has a major league team won such a dramatic victory on our own soil.

Another impressive event is coming to Arizona. Even though it won’t earn the television coverage, this program will have the best Arizona home team represented. The best part of this contest is that the tickets are free – you’ll get great seats – and you can play the part of an Umpire!

The Academic Decathlon will be holding the national finals in the Phoenix Civic Plaza in the month of April. High school teams – winners of local and regional events – will arrive from around the country to participate in this worthy competition of intellectual and academic excellence.

The organizers of the Academic Decathlon have searched long and hard for interested volunteers to serve as Decathlon judges. I have volunteered for the last five years as a speech judge, and I can tell you that the experience is worthy, and always gives me a pride of volunteerism.
The high school decathletes gain some valuable experience – and have the chance to earn a college scholarship. All I’ve given up is a single afternoon a year - and I’ve been trained and fed in the process. Last year I had the privilege of coaching one high school senior who has earned a full scholarship to ASU based on her Decathlon-winning speech. This year’s theme is “Understanding Others,” with a Super-Quiz on “The Internet and Society.” Decathletes also must prepare an essay, and are judged in an interview.

Would you like to be an Academic Decathlon judge? Sylvia Udall, the Executive Director of the Arizona Academic Decathlon is vitally interested in your involvement. She has asked invited Mensans in particular – and told me that the area of greatest need is to judge the written essays.
To judge in the regional event at Mountain Ridge High School on February 1 or 2, 2002 – contact Karen Meyers at 623-376-3077.

To judge at the state finals on March 8 or 9 at Chandler High School, contact Jane Parker at 480-839-2980 or Sylvia Udall at 480-632-8210.     In order to judge at the National Finals, held at the Phoenix Civic Plaza on April 11 –12, you must have served as a regional or state final judge.     I hope you’ll join me in this most worthy effort.