Saint Peter High School’s Academic Decathlon (AcaDec) team has a long history of success, and the Saints continued that run during the recent regional competition. All six SPHS competitors, under the guidance of advisor Peggy Dimock, earned a medal of some kind from the regional competition, which had to be held virtually because of the weather.
(PICTURED ABOVE) Members of the 2026 SPHS Academic Decathlon team includes: front row (l to r), Amelia Staples, Hamdi Garad, Addy Maxfield; back row, Anabelle Alexandri, Makayla Crowley, and Eleanor Easton Hong.
“This is a brand new team, as all of our former members graduated last year!” Dimock said. “ I couldn’t be prouder of this young team!”
Those Saints (and their grade) earning medals included:
Amelia Staples (12) - Silver in Essay
Addy Maxfield (12) - Silver in Science and Economics
Hamdi Garad (12) - Silver in Essay
Annabelle Alexandri - Silver in Science
Eleanor Easton Hong - Silver in Music
Makayla Crowley (9) - Bronze in Economics
About Academic Decathlon
Academic Decathlon programs promote academic growth and excellence for students in grades 9–12. Students benefit by participating in this national scholastic competition through the use of higher-level thinking skills while preparing students for college and life skills. It also helps foster individual accountability/growth and provides students with dynamic group/team interaction.
Participants also support team spirit and the sense of belonging. The program also fosters personal pride and success and can change students' lives, and offers them the opportunity to experience the rigors of team and individual competition.
The Academic Decathlon curriculum addresses a number of national content and curriculum standards and tests students of all skill levels in 10 events: economics, math, science, social science, literature, art, music, essay, speech, and interview. Teams consist of nine students, three from each GPA category: honor (3.8-4.00), scholastic (3.20-3.799), and varsity (0.0-3.199), as well as alternates.
To learn more about the Academic Decathlon program please visit www.usad.org.