Amity Regional HS Advances for Nat'l Academic Decathlon Competition

ORANGE, CT — Amity Regional High School’s Academic Decathlon Team is heading for the nationals.

Amity Regional qualified for this year’s National Academic Decathlon Competition after winning the title of Connecticut state champions on Feb. 25. The team includes seniors Anchal Bahel, Elise Sheehee, Sophia Liu, Selin Ho, and Sena Ho, as well as juniors Bridget Lowder, Ali Khan, and Shaofei Ong and is advised but Ms. Laura Roessler.

Each year, Academic Decathlon elects a theme, with this season’s focus being the American Revolution. Students had to study up on the relevance of this event on the nine subject areas which include science, math, literature, art, economics, social sciences, and music. In addition, each student was also required to participate in a speech, interview, and essay section which occurred online a week prior. Academic Decathlon splits students up into varying teams based on their past academic achievement, creating an honors, scholastic, and varsity category. This year, however, every member was able to be awarded a medal.

Khan and Ong, who are members of the varsity category, were won first place prizes in science, essay, literature, and interview. Bahel and Lowder competed among the Scholastic group and placed first in speech, interview, music, art, and the essay portion. Lastly, Liu and the Ho twins achieved first in essay and music, as well as second place in speech.

Team captain Anchal Bahel said that "this experience has been incredibly rewarding. Everyone sharing their differing strengths allowed the team to foster a community with unity and respect. I am grateful that we achieved this opportunity during my senior year. It will definitely be one to remember."

Nationals will occur on April 28, 2023, in Frisco, Texas.