Lodi Unified students shine at county decathlon

Lodi Unified School District’s Middle College High School recently took top team honors at the 38th Annual San Joaquin County Academic Decathlon.

Approximately 300 students from 12 high schools in the county took part in the event. The competition began with students engaging in speech and interview contests at the San Joaquin County Office of Education on Jan. 26. On Feb. 2, the competition moved to Lathrop High School, where competitors showcased their knowledge of art, economics, literature, mathematics, music, science, and social science in a series of tests, culminating in the high-energy Super Quiz.

Each year, all the decathlon events are tied together with a single theme. This year, the theme was The Sixties. Schools can field multiple teams, but only one Division I team can compete from each school. Each nine-member team consists of three students in each of three categories based on grade point average: Honors (3.75 – 4.0+), Scholastic (3.0 – 3.74), and Varsity (0.0 – 2.99).

Middle College High School received the Dave Sorgent Winner’s Cup and will compete at the State Academic Decathlon Championship in Sacramento, March 21-24.

Lodi Unified students placing in the top three included:

• Honors Division — Chandler Clark, Middle College High School, third place

• Scholastic Division — Musaid Abdullah, Middle College High School, first place; Ashton Beattie, Middle College High School, second place.

• Varsity — Emma Faszer, Middle College High School, third place.

Also, University of the Pacific awarded three renewable $5,000 scholarships to decathletes who have met the university requirements and have shown a strong desire to attend the university:

• Collin Pham, Ronald E. McNair High School.

• Sahila Shah, Ronald E. McNair High School.

Hundreds to compete in SkillsUSA event at Delta

More than 700 middle school, high school and college students from across the region will descend on Delta College this Saturday to show off their abilities in dozens of potential career fields, from animation and auto repair to web design and welding.

High school students from the northern San Joaquin Valley and Mother Lode will compete, as well as Delta College students, in the SkillsUSA Region 5 Competition scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SkillsUSA, a national organization with more than 360,000 students and advisors, aims to prepare students for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations.

Winners at the regional conference advance to the state conference, and from there to nationals. Last year, Delta automotive student Shane Gallagher advanced all the way to the national conference in Louisville, Ken.

In addition to showing off their technical skills, students on Saturday will be tested on their ability to interview for a job and to deliver a 20-second elevator pitch, among other “soft skills” that will help them find employment. Saturday’s event begins with an opening ceremony in Atherton Auditorium at 8:30 a.m. Students will then fan out to shops and work spaces across campus to compete in their specific skills.

Tokay High to host Eighth Grade Parent Night

Tokay High School will host its annual Eighth Grade Parent Night on Feb. 20, featuring presentations from students, teachers, club advisors, program directors and coaches. Counselors and administrators will also be available to answer questions.

Presentations begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Tokay High cafeteria, 1111 W. Century Blvd., Lodi. For more information, call 209-331-7878.